"Fascinating Rhythm" - by Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo - Lyric Stage Company (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo celebrate the careers of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein in "FASCINATING RHYTHM" a limited engagement event at the Lyric Stage in Boston, MA. until July 16, 2023. Photo Courtesy Lyric Stage)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"If you're a good composer, you steal good steals."
- Leonard Bernstein
Lyric Stage Company
Presents
"FASCINATING RHYTHM"
Featuring music by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein
Created By & Starring Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo
Performances:
July 7, 14, 2023 at 7:30pm (Pay What You Can)
July 8, 9, 15 & 16 2023 at 3:00pm
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
140 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116
TICKETS:
$45 General Admissions and $10 Students
BOX OFFICE # 617-585-5678
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
Just as "Back to the Future - the Musical" opens to previews on Broadway, Lyric Stage Company in Boston takes us all "back in time" as well.
The reason for Lyric's time travel excursion, though, is for a nostalgic retrospective of musical legacies, specifically those of legendary composers George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein.
While not arriving in a DeLorean, "FASCINATING RHYTHM" - a new revue created by and starring Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo from Lyric Stage’s performance of "Murder For Two" - arrives in the form of "four hands, two voices and 176 keys."
American composer and pianist George Gershwin was born "Jacob Gershwine" and lived from 1898 until 1937. His compositions overlapped multiple musical genres, including early 20th Century popular, jazz and classical.
Many of the lyrics to George's tunes were contributed by Gershwin's brother, Ira Gershwin (born "Israel Gershovitz,") who lived from 1896 until 1983. Together the brothers gave us some of the most memorable songs of that era...or of ANY era.
Born "Louis Bernstein," Leonard Bernstein was the son of Jewish parents, both of whom immigrated to America from Rivne (now part of Ukraine).
His grandmother was adamant that he be named "Louis," but Bernstein's parents always called him "Leonard" and, when he turned 18, he ultimately legally had his named changed to Leonard (shortly after his grandmother’s death).T
To Bernstein's parents, friends and others (including Broadway icon Chita Rivera who recently recalled this fact during a recent visit to Worcester in 2022), Leonard was simply known as “Lenny."
(Photo: Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo celebrate the careers of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein in "FASCINATING RHYTHM" a limited engagement event at the Lyric Stage in Boston, MA. until July 16, 2023. Photo Courtesy Lyric Stage)
"George and Lenny" were pioneering musical geniuses in their own right but it was Bernstein who was known to be an absolute fan of Gershwin.
While it is unusual for two people so young to focus on a revue of material by Gershwin and Bernstein, Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo make it work by reflecting an exuberance and undeniable camaraderie on stage between them.
Even in a world now full of trendy styles such as nu disco, synthwave, ambient music, J-Pop, K-Pop (and every-other-letter-in-the-alphabet-kinds-of-Pop)...and let's be clear: I have no idea what any of those are and I might have even made some up...there is an ongoing fascination for these two composers and an admiration of their fused forms of jazz, classical and contemporary musical styles and in which they practically invented.
When one thinks of (Lawrence, Massachusetts native) composer, conductor and pianist Bernstein, one might instantly recall his pieces from “West Side Story.” Some may even get stuck in your head:
"Boy, boy, crazy boy - Get cool, boy.
Got a rocket in your pocket- Keep coolly cool, boy"
(Yeah - good luck getting that one out of your head, now.)
When one considers the legacy of George Gershwin, with or without his brother, Ira, one might immediately think of the iconic songs from “An American in Paris.”
"I got rhythm, I got music
I got my man - Who could ask for anything more?"
(Did that help?)
For "FASCINATING RHYTHM" the creative process for the duo began in the summer of 2022, when Salpini and Troilo were approached by another theatre company and asked to create a two-piano show to present for a weekend slot in January.
The finished product is a joy to watch from beginning to end, all done in a lighthearted atmosphere with plenty of witty banter and improvising between the two performers, whose piano playing teamwork is equally impressive.
(Photo: Jared Troilo and Kirsten Salpini perform songs by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein in "FASCINATING RHYTHM" a limited engagement event at the Lyric Stage in Boston, MA. until July 16, 2023. Photo Courtesy Lyric Stage)
“FASCINATING RHYTHM” explores how Bernstein was influenced by Gershwin, and the parallels in their music are brought forth in a variety of fun, upbeat medleys and some singular, quieter, more melancholy pieces.
Also performed is a portion of the song, “Rhapsody in Blue,” a piece which particularly impacted Bernstein at an early age (13), and which has seen a resurgence in notoriety thanks to Sean Hayes' Tony-winning performance on Broadway in “Good Night, Oscar.”
Among the evening's set list are songs from "Candide," “Porgy and Bess,” “West Side Story,” “An American in Paris” and more.
Salpini shines vocally in her rendition of Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" and also mesmerizes with her take on Bernstein's "Somewhere" from "West Side Story."
Triolo covers "Maria" also from "West Side Story" and the duo also take a hilarious turn at "Gee, Officer Krupke," another crowd pleaser from the Bernstein masterpiece.
(Photo: Troilo and Salpini together musically 'channel' Gershwin and Bernstein in the musical revue "FASCINATING RHYTHM" a limited engagement event at the Lyric Stage in Boston, MA. until July 16, 2023. Photo Courtesy Lyric Stage)
The team of 176 keys (Troilo and Salpini) promise the "FASCINATING RHYTHM" revue "is not-your-grandmother's Gershwin show."
This is evident in how well the "Four Hand" piano skilled musicians infuse their own personalities to create a "symbiotic relationship" with the composers - letting the music reflect them as they, in turn, reflect the music.
Masterfully played on two pianos opposingly situated on stage, other standards include Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm," the jazz standards "Embraceable You" and "I Got Rhythm," "Summertime" from the opera "Porgy and Bess," and the exquisite Bernstein "Overture" to the operetta "Candide."
In addition these, there are a multitude of other great tunes along with some clever improv, a snappy looking tie, a ridiculously silly wig, tap shoes on an end table (uhh...it'll all make sense once you see it).
If you know any of these songs, you are guaranteed to enjoy yourself.
If you do NOT know any of these songs, you are STILL guaranteed to enjoy yourself.
I mean (and yes, I'm going to do it, proudly)..."Who COULD ask for anything more?"
"FASCINATING RHYTHM" is a limited engagement event, now playing at Lyric Stage Company in Boston until July 16th.
Approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
A dazzling journey through the music of George Gershwin & Leonard Bernstein told with four hands, two voices, & 176 keys.
Created By & Starring Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo from Lyric Stage’s performance of "Murder For Two."
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ABOUT THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON
Founded in 1974 and in residence at 140 Clarendon Street since 1991, THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON is Boston’s oldest resident theatre company. Our mission is to produce and present live theatre in Greater Boston with an intimate approach that promotes inclusivity and connection. THE LYRIC STAGE leads an effort to integrate live theater and theater education into the lives of all residents of greater Boston.
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA. 02116
BOX OFFICE: 617-585-5678
WEBSITE: www.lyricstage.com
