TheatreWorks premieres 'Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical'

 

From left: Ashley Cowl as Edna, Stepanie Gibson as Sissy, Shakina as Joanne and Stella Mae (Hayley Lovgren) gather for their reunion. (Photo by Kevin Berne)

James Dean was movie idol whose death in a car accident in 1955 at the age of 24 caused his legions of fans, especially teenage girls, to go into mourning.

In “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean: A New Musical,” some fan club members gather for a reunion honoring him 20 years later. Their small hometown in Texas is near the setting of his last film, “Giant.”

In this world premiere presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, they meet in a dime store owned by Loretta (Judith Miller) a Southern Baptist widow. They include Mona (Lauren Marcus), Sissy (Stephanie Gibson), Stella Mae (Hayley Lovgren) and Edna Louise (Ashley Cowl).

They’re soon joined by a mysterious stranger driving a Porsche. She reveals herself to be Joanne (Shakin

a), who 20 years ago was known as Joe, Mona’s husband.

On top of that, Mona has a son (Ellie Van Amerongen) whom she has named Jimmy Dean because she supposedly had a one-night stand with the movie star when he was in the area. She also makes a claim to fame because she was in a crowd scene in “Giant.”

Secrets are revealed and relationships challenged during the reunion.

Director Giovanna Sardelli, who is TheatreWorks’ artistic director, has assembled a talented ensemble cast with each member spotlighted individually or in a group and creating a memorable character.

Although everyone sings well, Shakina’s lyrics can be hard to discern in Dan Gillespie Sells’ country western-style music. It might be helpful to follow the San Francisco Opera’s use of supertitles -- even for operas in English.

The book by Ashley Robinson is based on Ed Graczyk’s play, which has had several stage and film iterations.

The artistic team makes noteworthy contributions with musical direction by Jacob Yates, set by Nina Ball, costumes by Alina Bokovikova, lighting by Kurt Landisman and sound by Cliff Caruthers.

TheatreWorks presented a staged reading of the show in its New Works Festival last year.

Running just under two hours with no intermission, “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” will continue through July 13 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.

For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

 

 

 

 

 

'Sweat' shows what can happen when jobs are lost

 

 Amy Meyers (left) as Tracey, Tannis Hanson as Jessie and Kimberly Ridgeway as Cynthia in the Palo Alto Players production of "Sweat". (Photo by Scott Lasky) 

When a factory closes, the lives of its blue collar workers are devastated.

That’s the premise of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Sweat,” presented by Palo Alto Players.

The play opens in 2008 in Reading, Pennsylvania, where a parole officer (ShawnJ West, who also directs the play) asks two recently released prisoners what they plan to do with their lives.

The white Jason (Will Livingston), his face and neck heavily tattooed, is belligerent and doesn’t seem to know what’s next.

The Black Chris (Adam C. Torrian) wants to go to college and better himself. Why he and Jason were imprisoned becomes clear later.

The action then goes back to 2000, mostly in a bar presided over by Stan (Scott Solomon), and frequented by several workers, including Jason and Chris, at the nearby factory.

The other regulars are Tracey (Amy Meyers), Jason’s mother; Cynthia (Kimberly Ridgeway), Chris’s mother; and their friend, Jessie (Tannis Hanson).

Stan is assisted by a mostly silent young Hispanic man, Oscar (Aaron Edejer).

They’ve heard rumors that the plant’s new owners might close it and move to Mexico, but they believe their union will protect them.

A rift between Cynthia and her two friends ensues after Cynthia is promoted into management. She insists she’s trying to help them, but they see her as a traitor.

The play’s other character is Brucie (Anthony Haynes), Cynthia’s ex-husband, who became addicted to drugs after losing his job at another factory.

The episodic action switches between 2000 and 2008. TV monitors delivering the news help to define the time period.

West’s direction and the cast’s acting are solid. However, the actors’ diction and projection and perhaps Gregorio Perez’s sound design can make the dialogue difficult to understand, at least where I was seated house left.

Other design elements enhance the play with the set by Kevin Davies, costumes by Nia Jacobs and lighting by Chris Beer.

Because of the faulty diction and strong language, this is a not a play for youngsters.

Running about two and a half hours with an intermission, it will continue through June 29 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.

For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or visit www.paplayers.org.