Irving Berlin’s Musical Soundtrack to Everything Wonderful in Many/Most/All 20th Century American Lives –

By Myra Chanin . . .

At least three cheers, once again, for Marilyn Wick, the executive managing producer of the Wick Theatre. I’ve never seen one of her productions that was even a sliver below excellent. The Wick’s current musical, I Love A Piano, which opens Marilyn’s tenth glorious season there, has a score of 60 songs gleaned from 1500 songs written by that iceberg of melody, rhythm and rhyme, Irving Berlin, during his 50 most glorious creative years. When Jerome Kern, a fellow composer and no slouch in the tunesmith department, having written the score for Showboat, was asked what place Berlin had in American Music, Kern replied that Irving Berlin was American Music, which even now may still be the truth. 

His music plays on and still delights. From the 1910s we have Berlin’s first international then, now and forever hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” which revived ragtime and bestowed the title of The King of Tin Pan Alley on him, followed by the perky “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy,” the sweetly romantic “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” the novel “Snooky Ookums,” the toe-tapping “When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam.” What versatility! What wit. What an ability to express emotion!

Next, from his Broadway and Hollywood decades, we hear the songs that inspired the elegant Fred Astaire to lead Ginger Rogers across gleaming dance floors, like “Stepping Out With My Baby,” “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” “Putting on the Ritz,” “Cheek to Cheek,” amid floating feathers “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.“ 

The songs are even more remarkable because the melodies were composed by a man who couldn’t read music, taught himself to play the piano, and could only compose in the key of F-sharp major on mostly black keys. In addition, despite only two years of formal education when he was a pre-teen, he created such sophisticated lyrics with interior rhymes like:

Before the fiddlers have fled, before they ask us to pay the bill
And while we still got a chance, let’s face the music and dance.

JJ Salisbury, a magnificent choreographer/director, staged a show where every single background aspect blends together flawlessly with every performing aspect of the production. It captures the essence of the American spirit and reflects the joy, struggles and triumphs of everyday 20th century life. Berlin’s songs evoke a range of emotions that speak directly to the human experience. I found myself tearing up unexpectedly when my body evoked feelings from some particular song, or when I had to restrain my dancing feet which wanted to do the Foxtrot. 

Now, let’s give credit to the unbelievable crew that set the stage for this perfection of a show: Musical Director Michael Ursua, who also played keyboards in a great live band; Scenic Director Michael Anania; Katie Whittemore’s Lighting Design; Kacey D. Kaploff’s projections; Ellis Tillman’s costumes; and Jeff Knaggs’s wigs. 

As for the cast: 

  • Aaron Bower, a Wick regular, who starred in Anything Goes, and Cinderella;
  • Newbie Christina Carlucci, who will be welcomed back with joy;
  • Tori Kelly, a Carbonell Award winner, with Broadway and national credits;
  • Alex Jorth, another Wick regular and resident of South Florida;
  • James Paterson, with Broadway and national tour credits;
  • And the adorable Ryan Matthew Petty, another newbie whom we also look forward to seeing again.

They sang no false notes, didn’t miss a beat or forget a single syllable. And boy could they dance. What was even more astounding was the skill with which they ran backstage and returned almost instantly in different outfits and wigs. 

I can’t think of a Broadway show that I enjoyed as much as this production and I’m planning to see it again before the performances end on November 12. Don’t miss it. You may never forgive yourself if you do. 

I Love a Piano. Through November 12 at The Wick Theatre (7901 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida). www.thewick.org or call 561-995-2333 for tickets. 

Photos: Amy Pasquantonio