The Pasadena Playhouse has a love affair going with the plays of Noel Coward whose works are still alive and well on local stages. Last year the Playhouse presented a frothy little romp, "Fallen Angels," under the direction of Art Manke and this season they offer "A Song at Twilight," also directed by Manke.
The Pasadena Playhouse has a love affair going with the plays of Noel Coward whose works are still alive and well on local stages. Last year the Playhouse presented a frothy little romp, "Fallen Angels," under the direction of Art Manke and this season they offer "A Song at Twilight," also directed by Manke.
"Despite several decades of audiences roaring with laughter at his plays," says the director, " Noel Coward was often the target of critics who found his work to be thin, at best. With his final play, 'A Song at Twilight,' he had the last laugh and proved that in addition to the usual sparklingly witty dialogue, he could craft characters of great depth and pathos."
"A Song at Twilight," penned in the playwright's later years, is the third in a trilogy of plays known as "Suite in Three Keys." While the dialogue is often witty and sharp, the theme deals with the pain of living a secret life. In what was to be the actor, writer, composer's swan song, Coward played the role of Sir Hugo Latymer on the London stage in 1966
The character, based in part on the life of author Sommerset Maugham, parallels Coward's own secret identity as well. Set in a luxurious hotel suite in Switzerland in 1966, "A Song at Twilight" takes place one year before Great Britain decriminalized consensual homosexual acts in 1967. Writing the play, therefore, was a courageous undertaking for Coward at the time.
In the current production the protagonist, Sir Hugo (Bruce Davidson), has kept his personal emotional life a secret from the world, not wishing to tarnish his reputation as a successful author. He has been married to his secretary, Hilde (Roxanne Hart), for twenty years. A German woman with excellent organizational skills, she keeps his life on schedule and in order. They are staying in in a gorgeous hotel suite in Switzerland while Hugo recuperates from heart related problems
As the play begins, he is awaiting a visit from a former lover, Carlotta Gray (Sharon Lawrence), an actress he hasn't seen in more than 30 years. Why, both Hugo and Hilde wonder, has she decided to come calling on them at this point in time?
Carlotta, who is also staying at their hotel, has come with a request. She has written her memoir and wants his permission to publish the love letters he wrote to her many years ago. A very guarded man who has kept his personal life private, Hugo refuses.
But Carlotta is determined, and if he won't change his mind she will then publish other letters he wrote many years ago to the only person he truly loved. The man in question was also Carlotta's friend and prior to his death he gave Hugo's letters to her.
Will Carlotta resort to blackmail to get what she wants? Will she change her mind? Does she have other reasons for publishing Hugo's secret letters? At first the two of them talk cordially over dinner served by Hugo's butler, Felix (Zach Bandler) who comes with the suite..
Act I is expository, but things really come to life in Act II when Hilde returns after an evening out with her girl friend. When the three of them are all together sparks fly as secrets come out of the closet revealing the pain that comes from living an emotional lie.
The world has come a long way in terms of accepting people who are different. In the not so distant past individuals had to hide their true emotional identity, fearing imprisonment. When noted playwright Oscar Wilde's secret life was revealed he was sent to jail. The resulting scandal and imprisonment led to his early death. No wonder Sir Hugo is determined to keep his secret past hidden from the world. At this late stage in his life he doesn't want to tarnish his reputation as a gifted writer of international regard. . .
The set by Tom Buderwitz is elegant as are the costumes of the era designed by David Kay Mickelsen and the lighting design by Peter Maradudin gives the illusion of a a sunny day gently settling into twilight.
"A Song at Twilight," at the Pasadena Playhouse, 39 South El Molino Ave., Pasadena, ends April 13. For Tickets and info: (626) 356-7529 or www.Pasadena HYPERLINK "http://playhouse.org/"Playhouse.org. Running time: 2 hours.
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The Cohen brothers, Joel and Ethan, wrote and directed “Inside Llewyn Davis,” a film that chronicles a week in the life of a young folk singer in New York’s Greenwich Village circa 1961. Llewyn, played by actor/musician Oscar Issac, is having a hard time getting by financially and artistically, relying on the support of friends, family and even strangers to stay afloat. He faces countless obstacles along the way, many of which he creates for himself.
The Cohen brothers have assembled a fine cast that includes Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, F. Murray Abraham and Justin Timberlake as well as a golden cat or two (portrayed by more than one tabby). The result is purrfect. In fact the cat is more warm and lovable than our protagonist who often antagonizes those who are closest to him. And if an Oscar category included cat capers this kitty would be in contention.
As the film opens Llewyn is singing in a club, his voice and style are intimate and warm, drawing the listener into his world and music. But as we start to know him better, we like him less, wondering why friends stand by him so steadfastly. One pair of admirers, a professor and his wife, have allowed Llewyn to crash over night. The next morning Llewyn is the last human to leave the apartment. In the process he leaves the front door open and the cat races out with Llewyn hot pursuit.
The film is filled with music performed by Isaacs, Timberlake and Carey Mulligan and others and is the Cohen brother’s fourth collaborations with multiple Grammy and Academy Award winning music producer T Bone Burnett.
The DVD comes with a Special Feature on the making of the film and is extremely interesting. The Cohen Brothers and cast members talk about the music and both Joel and Ethan laugh about the difficulty involved in getting a cat to do what they wanted it to do. But in the end, the cat characters give very purrr-sonable performances.
The film, from Sony Pictures, is rated R for language and some sexual references.
