Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 12, 1994 TAG: 9411170026
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KAREN L. DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Born in Peru, Ind., in 1893, Porter became one of America's most popular musical-comedy composers. He graduated from Yale University and studied music at Harvard University. His successful shows include ``Anything Goes,'' ``Kiss Me, Kate'' and ``Can-Can.''
The production, directed by Catherine Smith, introduces Cole Porter through the songs, ``Wouldn't It Be Fun'' and ``Another Op'nin' Another Show,'' noting that Porter wrote 26 openings for 26 shows. From there, the numbers progress through Porter's days at Yale, then in Paris, Manhattan and on Broadway. Each number marks a step in his career, from his first bomb, ``See America First,'' to perhaps his best-known hit, ``Anything Goes.''
An ensemble of 12 performs hit song after hit song, with several solos, duos and trios in-between. The performers, almost equally matched in vocal skills, are William Capps, Claire Gardner English, Dale Johnson, Tom Meloche, Cam Srpan, Doray Feeser Walker, Carter Cox, JoEllen Famularo, Ian Lowden, Ellen Simpson, Jackie Volf and Jeff Walker.
Musical director and accompanist Jack Phillips uses only a couple of his electronic keyboard's 138 ``voices,'' but the effect is quite pleasing. Most important, his instrument never overpowers or outpaces any performer's voice.
The numbers performed by the entire ensemble are the liveliest and most entertaining. Some of the solos are at best mediocre. But Claire English's sparkling voice deserves an honorable mention for her renditions of ``What Is This Thing Called Love?'' and ``Make It Another Old Fashioned Please.''
Also noteworthy are a couple of the humorous vignettes, ``Be a Clown,'' performed by Cox and Volf, and ``Brush Up Your Shakespeare,'' performed by Cox, Capps and Walker.
The simple set is a New York city skylight that never changes except for lighting effects on the black backdrop that denote the passage of time. With the exception of the clown outfits, costumes are black-and-white tuxedos and gowns that mark the elegance of the theater world.
The piece is as much a tribute to musical theater as it is to the man who devoted his life to its exacting demands. Yet, as is evident in his lyrics, Porter often questioned the theater's dubious rewards of fame and fortune. Not only did he live in constant pain from injuries suffered in a horseback riding accident, he struggled all his life to live up to others' expectations of him. His last song examined the idea, ``Wouldn't it be fun to be anyone ... but me.''
``Cole''
Continues at Showtimers' McVitty Road studio through Nov. 20. Curtain is at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets, $9. For reservations, call the box office at 774-2660.
by CNB