Kevin Spirtas and Abigail Stewart (Photo by Caitlin Mae Smith)
Reviewed by Martίn Hernández
The Group Rep
Through November 2
A college student gets an education into the supernatural during her junior year abroad in this middling and longwinded musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 1887 short story “The Canterville Ghost.”
While updating Wilde’s work to the digital age is a promising concept, Doug Haverty’s book conveys only a modicum of humor while Adryan Russ’s sprightly music is undermined by its stilted lyrics (co-written by Haverty and Russ). The bright spots in the show are lead performer Abigail Stewart’s superb vocal and comedic performance as the spunky Yank, and Kevin Spirtas’s similarly talented turn as the modern day version of Wilde’s crabby specter.
Snagging a coveted slot at a prestigious London art academy, Virginia Otis (Stewart) departs the States for Canterville Chase, a rundown castle where she will work as a housekeeper to cover tuition (“I’m Soaring”). Trevor (Casey Alcoser), the milquetoast Duke of Canterville, has inherited the place and its burdensome debts, left to him by profligate progenitors. Another pesky inheritance is his great-great uncle, the 99-years dead Sir Simon (Spirtas), a tetchy but urbane spirit who scares the bejesus out of Trevor (“Are You Brave Enough?”) For Virginia, who reveled in rumored tales that the castle was haunted, meeting Sir Simon is more of a thrill than a threat. She laughs off his varied efforts to spook her and eventually forms a contentious yet symbiotic relationship with Sir Simon while fighting off a romantic one with Trevor.
Trevor and his loyal retainers Mr. and Mrs. Umney (Rob Shaumann and Catherine McClenahan respectively) plan a fundraising “haunted house” tour of the castle, and they enlist Virginia to help keep Sir Simon in check lest he scare the wealthy guests. Soon, the living and the dead of the house bond to reunite Sir Simon with his beloved spouse and renowned painter Lucinda (Savannah Mortenson), another resident spirit who inexplicably is unable to connect with Sir Simon (“Stages of Love”). That Lucinda is Virginia’s artistic hero and the motive for her coming to Canterville Chase buttresses her efforts to bring the estranged couple together. Lucinda may also aid in unjamming Virginia’s inspiration in her artwork (“From The Heart”).
Director Kathleen R. Delaney displays some crafty staging on her and Haverty’s realistic set, notably comic scenes of a floating table at a séance and Sir Simon solving Virginia’s mobile data glitches. However, Delaney’s slapdash choreography is doubly disappointing as not everyone in the plucky supporting ensemble are adept dancers — most of their moves are awkward rather than frightening. Musical director Leigh Anne Gillespie’s four-piece ensemble could use a bit of tightening up as well.
Spirtas is well-voiced and engaging as the flamboyant though not well attired Sir Sim on. (Costume designer Shon LeBlanc outfits him in drab non-period sleepwear better suited to a regular dad than a regal duke. ) Spirtas’s and Mortenson’s lovely vocal blending also brings a poignancy to their characters’ gloomy dilemma (“The Stages of Love”). Alcoser is a competent singer and holds his own with Stewart as their joint “opposites attract” chemistry adds a charming aspect to the lumbering proceedings (“Showing You The Town.”)
The Group Rep, 10900 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 2 pm; thru Nov. 2. www.thegrouprep.com Running time 2 hours and 30 minutes an intermission)
