San Diego Reader March 30, 2017 53


Broadway bound


If she sees Oscar Jaffe again, Lily will resort to indelicate verbiage and vigorous eye-gouging.


T


heatrical wizard David Belasco (1853–1931) was a major link between 19th- and 20th- century theater. Instead of deep-fried,


scenery-chomping acting, he demanded a more naturalistic style and detailed sets famous for their “tidiness.” He banished footlights and dis- covered many a future star, includ- ing Barbara Stanwyck (and made her change her name). Whether producing or directing, his name alone had box office value. The “imperious impresario” was also 19 kinds


It has since appeared in several versions, includ-


ing the Charles McArthur, Ben Hecht screwball comedy, and the 1978 Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green musical. It’s currently receiv- ing a mad dash, beautifully sung production at Cygnet Theatre.


THEATER JEFF SMITH


of megalomaniac. “Tyrant” just describes his knuck- les. He detested broad acting but, in person, was larger than melodrama. Belasco was so egocentric, so domineering, that Charles Bruce Milholland, Belasco’s press secretary in 1930, wrote Napoleon of Broadway about him. In 1930, they took a train ride from Chicago to New York on the famous Twentieth Century Limited. Evidently Belasco didn’t enjoy being cooped up, even on a train so luxurious they called it the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” For 18-plus hours he ranted and raved. No theater would touch Milholland’s


script — one needn’t wonder why, Belasco being such a powerhouse, even in his grave. Napoleon became one of American theater’s most famous unproduced plays.


Oscar Jaffe, protagonist of On


the Twentieth Century, is based on Belasco. Once a mega-producer/ director on Broadway, Jaffe’s last


four shows tanked at the box office. His most recent got cancelled at intermission — on opening night. He owes $250,000. He can’t pay his cast or even his loyal “musketeers”: press agent Owen O’Malley and business manager Olive Webb. They board the Twentieth Century Limited in Chicago. He has the trip to New York to write a play that will bust the block. He must finance it and, to guarantee copious ticket sales, must re-woo Oscar-winning actor and ex-lover Lily Garland. Word has it, however, that if she sees him again, Lily will resort to indelicate verbiage, not to mention vigorous eye-gouging. That’s the set-up. Add to it a Congressman


caught in flagrante, tap-dancing porters, and a religious fanatic plastering the walls with red stick-on’s that read, “REPENT, for the time is at hand.” Turns out she’s Mrs. Letitia Primrose, who is either the zillionaire head of a patent medicine


One of the greatest American actors in history almost never took the stage.


On the Twentieth Century delivers a megalomaniac theater director, his loyal "musketeers" and ex-lover, a congressman caught in flagrante, and tap-dancing porters to Broadway.


On the Twentieth Century, book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Cy Coleman Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, Old Town Directed by Sean Murray; cast: Bryan Banville, Eileen Bowman, Drew Bradford, Morgan Carberry, Trevor Cruise, Michael Cusimano, Melissa Fernandes, Melinda Gilb, Samantha Wynn Greenstone, Steve Gunderson, Luke H. Jacobs, Lafras Le Roux, Sean Murray, Amy Perkins, Debra Wanger; scenic design, Sean Fanning; costumes, Jeanne Reith; lighting, Chris Rynne; sound, Dylan Nielsen; musical director, Terry O’Donnell; choreographer, David Brannen


Playing through April 30; Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 7 p.m. Matinee Sunday at 2 p.m. cygnettheatre.com


company — and a theatrical producer’s dream donor — or just stark raving nuts. One of the musical’s many inner connections:


it may not be the end of the world, as the stick-ons proclaim, but it’s certainly the end of Oscar Jaffee if he pulls in to Grand Central Station without


By Lolita Chakrabarti Directed by


Stafford Arima


March 25 – April 30 Tickets Start at $29


Now Playing!


(619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623) www.TheOldGlobe.org Albert Jones. Photo by Jim Cox.


OPENS TUESDAY AT 7PM • APRIL 4-9 WINNER! BROADWAY.COM’S AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL


CIVIC THEATRE 3rd & B Street


GROUPS (10+): 619-564-3001 Rating: All ages.


619-570-1100 800-982-ARTS BROADWAYSD.COM


WANT FRONT & CENTER SEATS? TRY OUR PRESIDENT’S CLUB SAMPLER: PRESCLUB@BROADWAYSD.COM


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