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| Guests at the Catskills bungalow colony watch as Neil Armstrong walks on the moon. |
American Conservatory Theater is encapsulating a
major turning point in U.S. history with its world premiere of “A Walk on the
Moon.”
This musical is set during the summer of 1969. That’s
when man first walked on the moon, Woodstock signaled a cultural sea change,
Vietnam War resistance was intensifying and feminism was rising.
All of these events affect a 30-something Jewish
woman and her family as they spend the summer with other families at a bungalow
colony in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
On weekends, Pearl (Katie Brayben); her rebellious
teenage daughter, Alison (Brigid O’Brien); her 8-year-old son, Danny (Elijah
Cooper); her mother-in-law, Lillian (Kerry O’Malley); and the other women are joined
by their menfolk, including Pearl’s husband, Marty, (Jonah Platt), a TV
repairman.
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| Pearl (Katie Brayben) meets Walker (Zak Resnick), the Blouse Man. |
Pearl’s world turns upside-down when she meets the handsome
Blouse Man, Walker (Zak Resnick), a hippie who’s one of the traveling vendors
who visit the colony with their wares.
The attraction between him and Pearl is almost
immediate, leading to an affair.
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| Ross (Nick Sacks) plays and sings for Alison (Brigid O'Brien). |
In the meantime, Alison meets the sweet, guitar-playing
Ross (Nick Sacks) and soon has her first boyfriend.
Separately, the two couples sneak off to the concerts
at Woodstock, precipitating a family crisis.
The book for this musical is by Pamela Gray, who
also wrote the book for a film of the same name.
The music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman, with
additional lyrics by Gray, capture the ’60s rock sound. For example, “World
Without Men,” sung by Pearl, Lillian and three other wives, evokes girl groups.
“Hey Mr. President,” sung by Ross, brings to mind folk music by the likes of
Bob Dylan.
Besides the psychedelic experience at Woodstock, a
central event is the moon walk by Neil Armstrong on July 21, 1969. Like others
around the world, everyone at the colony celebrates while glued to the communal
TV set.
Scenic designer Donyale Werle has captured the
ambiance of the woodsy setting. She’s aided by Tal Yarden’s projections of news
footage as well as a changing sky.
Costumes by Linda Cho, lighting by Robert Wierzel,
sound by Leon Rothenberg and choreography by Josh Prince are effective.
The production is skillfully directed by Sheryl
Kaller, who elicits outstanding performances from the entire cast. The singing
is outstanding, too, aided by music director Greg Kenna and vocal designer
Annmarie Milazzo.
Although some may find the show schmaltzy, it’s
still thoroughly enjoyable. And its creators undoubtedly will tweak it before
it goes to other stages.
Running and two and a half hours with one
intermission, “A Walk on the Moon” will continue through July 1 at ACT’s Geary
Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco.
Photos by Alessandra Mello
