See What I Wanna See

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "See What I Wanna See" by Michael John LaChiusa

Date: Mon, Jan. 8, 12.04

Quicktake on SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE

     Versatile Aimee Doherty has had an interesting collection of roles in recent seasons, starting with "Into the Woods" at the New Rep's old Newton digs, one of Bobby's girlfriends in Speakeasy's "Company" then onto the plain heroine of Amimus' "Promises, Promises" opposite her husband, Jeff Mahoney, followed by Evelyn Nesbit in the New Rep's "Ragtime" over in Watertown. This fall she played the youngest member of the "set" in Speakeasy's "The Women" followed by strong ensemble work in their "Bubbly Black Girl.." Now she's front and center as the female lead for Michael John LaChiusa's twin music theatre pieces in "See What I Wanna See" for the Lyric, a show adapted from three short stories by early 20th century Japanese writer, Ryonosuke Akutagawa. Doherty plays the role of the role of Kesa, created by Idina Menzel in the original New York production. opposite tenor Andrew Giordano as Morita. A BosCon alum, he's back in town in a leading role this time.

     The duo play a pair of lethal lovers in Noh-like vignettes set in medieval Japan used as preludes for the two longer sections, where they play related roles. The first, more operatic piece, is "R Shamon", another retelling of "In the Grove", set in 1951 New York when Kurosawa's classic version was bursting on the film scene. The second more conventional music drama, a post 9/11 fable about the endtime, is "Gloryday" based on "The Dragon". The two halves are subtly inter-related, primarily through Brendan McNab's movie theatre janitor who morphs into disillusioned Catholic priest. he was notable as the political prisoner in Speakeasy's "Kiss of the Spider Woman. "The other two players are Julie Babolan as the Medium who becomes the priest's atheist aunt Monica and Emerson grad Andrew Schufman who first plays a knife-carrying hoodlum named Mako, then a young television reporter. Babolan played Emma Goldman last spring in the New Rep's "Ragtime." The cast becomes a seamless ensemble under director Stephen Terrell, with Doherty as the central focus in "R Shamon" and McNab as the force behind "Gloryday." in which she plays a rather wasted actress. Their intensity get the show over a few weak moments in Part 1.

    Music director Jonathan Goldberg makes the most of his talented vocalists, with himself at the keyboard, two reeds, and three percussionists. The unit set is an architectural creation reminiscent of origami by Brynna C. Bloomfied backed by the suggestion of the famous gate, expertly lit by Karen Perlow. Costumes were created by Rafael Jaen and capture the three periods of the show. LaChiusa's music, which has touches of Japanese tradition, hovers somewhere between modern chamber opera in the world of Weill, Sondheim, and other more contemporary composers who're expanding the horizon of the musical theatre.

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"See What I Wanna See" by Michael John LaChiusa, Jan. 5 - Feb. 3

Lyric Stage Co. at Copley YWCA

140 Clarendon, (617) 585 - 5678
Lyric Stage Co.