Dear Reader Jose and I were at the historic Alex Theatre in downtown Glendale, California, U.S.A. this evening, Dear Readers. Tonight was the first presentation of the season for the Musical Theatre Guild, and the featured show was My Favorite Year, with music by Mr. Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Miss Lynn Ahrens and book by Mr. Joseph Dougherty, based on the film of the same name. Mr. Dougherty was in the audience this evening.
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened my program to see that Mr. David Engel was cast as Alan Swann, the dipsomaniac swashbuckling movie star, played by Peter O'Toole in the film. Mr. Engel was splendid; he has a terrific singing voice and played the part with great panache. Mr. Richard Israel was a credible Benjy Stone and both Miss Eydie Alyson as Alice Miller and Miss Eileen Barnett as Belle made excellent work of their parts.
I had not been exposed to My Favorite Year previously, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is not without its flaws, however. The first act curtain is rather weak, and the story line involving Swann and his daughter is handled in rather maudlin fashion. But there are several excellent roles with some genuinely funny lines, and the score--which covers a broad range of mood and situation--is quite enjoyable.
Just few seats away from Dear Reader Jose and me was Mr. Lenny Wolpe, on his night off from the national tour of Little Shop of Horrors, which I will be seeing on Thursday evening.
