by Otto Coelho
Reunions are, in my experience, a mixed bag—especially when you haven’t seen the people you’re reuniting with in a long time. Most have the image of their friends locked in to a previous place and time, when underneath it all we know that change is inevitable and we really have to learn to accept those changes. In addition, sometimes long-held secrets are revealed—and those secrets can color the attitude and behavior of those being reunited.
“Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean – A New Musical” is set at a reunion of The Disciples of James Dean—a James Dean Fan Club—in a small town in west Texas, and change and secrets play a major part of the action of the show. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has assembled a seven-member ensemble that hits all the right notes—both literally (all voices are terrific) and figuratively.
Lauren Marcus is great as Mona, the single mother of the young man she insists was fathered by James Dean. Marcus possesses a strong voice and she walks Mona’s potentially hazardous line between fiction and reality with great aplomb. Stephanie Gibson is fabulously energetic as Sissy, Mona’s fellow Disciple and friend. Ashley Cowl is wonderful as Edna, who says more with her stillness than the number of words she’s given in the script, and she possesses a powerful singing voice to boot. Shakina portrays Joanne—formerly Joe—with marvelous dignity and grace, and a dash of no-nonsense mischievousness that is simply fantastic. In previous reviews I have asked Hayley Lovgren to give a mediocre performance so I didn’t have to wear out my thesaurus trying to find different words to praise great performances. She apparently doesn’t read my reviews as she turns in yet another fabulous turn as Stella Mae, the wife of a wealthy oil tycoon. Judith Miller is good as religious dime store owner Loretta, and Ellie Van Amermongen performs triple duty as Disciple Joe, James Dean, and Mona’s son Jimmy Dean—and all excellently.
Director Giovanna Sardelli has guided her cast through the dense and what could be difficult material brilliantly—though I found one bit in the latter half confusing—was it a flashback, a waking dream, or perhaps a little of both? Maybe the confusion was strictly mine. Music Director Jacob Yates makes the music—both vocal and instrumental—pitch perfect. Kurt Landisman lights Nina Ball’s absolutely gorgeous set nicely, and Alina Bokovikova’s costumes and Y. Sharon Peng’s wig and hair designs reflect the changes between 1955 and 1975 beautifully. Cliff Caruthers’ sound design makes it all sound terrific. If I have one nit to pick, there’s an extended period of time in the first half that has no musical numbers. While the dialogue is compelling, for me there could have been another song or two there.
So get to the Mountain View Center for the Performng arts and see “Come Back To The 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical.” It may just make you want to reconnect with old friends from twenty years ago. However, as this show reminds us—your friends may have changed more than you can imagine.
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Rating: **** (For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating system, click here.)
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Come Back To The 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean:A New Musical. Produced by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in partnership with Broadway & Beyond Theatricals. Book by Ashley Robinson. Music by Dan Gillespie Sells. Lyrics by Shakina. Based on the play by Ed Graczyk. Director: Giovanna Sardinelli. Music Director: Jacob Yates. Scenic Design: Nina Ball. Costume Design: Alina Bokovikova. Lighting Design: Kurt Landisman. Sound Design: Cliff Caruthers.Y. Sharon Peng: Wig and Hair Design. Movement Coordinator: Lee Ann Payne. Kimily Conkle: Dialect Coach. Dani O’Dea: Fight Coordinator.
Cast:
Loretta: Judith Miller. Mona: Lauren Marcus. Sissy: Stephanie Gibson. Edna Louise: Ashley Cowl. Stella Mae: Ashley Lovgren. Joanne: Shakina. Joe/Jimmy Dean: Ellie Van Amermongen.
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