{"id":9167,"date":"2018-09-26T20:15:26","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T03:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/?p=9167"},"modified":"2018-12-01T15:40:45","modified_gmt":"2018-12-01T23:40:45","slug":"a-white-bread-version-of-a-bronx-tale-on-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/a-white-bread-version-of-a-bronx-tale-on-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"A White Bread Version of \u201cA Bronx Tale\u201d on Stage at the Pantages Theatre"},"content":{"rendered":"

Theatre Review<\/h2>\n

Is it a book?\u00a0 Is it a film?\u00a0 Is it a play? Is it a musical? Is it \u201cJersey Boys?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Is it \u201cGuys &<\/strong> Dolls?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Is it \u201cWest Side Story?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Well, my friends, if this production was a stew, it would be a dash of this, a little bit of that, and a drop or two of schmaltz* for seasoning.\u00a0 \u201cA Bronx Tale\u201d<\/strong> the musical, is yet another iteration of Academy Award<\/strong> nominee Chazz Palminteri’s<\/strong> heartwarming, semi-autobiographical story based on his childhood.\u00a0 The genesis of the current version began when he was 40.<\/strong>\u00a0 His career wasn\u2019t exactly skyrocketing and as any smart, ambitious actor would do, he decided to write and star in his own material.\u00a0 He launched his one-man show in Los Angeles<\/strong> after which it travelled to off-Broadway<\/strong> and enjoyed a successful run.\u00a0 Eventually it morphed into a film directed and acted by two-time Oscar <\/strong>winner Robert De Niro,<\/strong> who also co-directed with four-time Tony Award<\/strong> winner Jerry Zaks<\/strong> for the current North American<\/strong> tour.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
The Italian gang in the \u201cBelmont Avenue\u201d production number.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The story, told through the eyes of the adult character of Calogero,<\/strong> portrayed by Joey Barreiro,<\/strong> takes us from his childhood and teenage years to adulthood. The tale begins with a familiar Frank Sinatra<\/strong> shot of a quartet of bebop singers standing under a lamppost, illuminated by an effective lighting design by Howell Binkley,<\/strong> which is consistent throughout the production.\u00a0 With a backdrop of movable multi-level fire escapes and storefronts by set designer Beowulf Boritt<\/strong>, \u201cBelmont Avenue\u201d<\/strong> sung by the ensemble and a young Calogero,<\/strong> kicks off the first of 18 <\/strong>production numbers with music by Oscar, Grammy,<\/strong> and Tony Award<\/strong> winner Alan Menken <\/strong>with lyrics penned by Glenn Slater,<\/strong> Grammy Award<\/strong> winner and Oscar<\/strong> and Tony Award<\/strong> nominee, with choreography by Tony<\/strong> nominee Sergio Trujillo.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"stage<\/a>
LEFT: The young Calogero (Frankie Leoni) with his father Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake). RIGHT: Local gangster Sonny (Joe Barbara) forms a lasting bond with young \u201cC.\u201d (Frankie Leoni).<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sonny<\/a>
L-R: As his gang watches, Sonny (Joe Barbara) is confronted by Calogero’s father Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake) at his Chez Bippy hangout.<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The youthful Calogero<\/strong>, played by a little dynamo named Frankie Leoni<\/strong>, lives in this Italian-American Bronx<\/strong> neighborhood with his father Lorenzo, (Richard H. Blake)<\/em><\/strong> and his mom, Rosina (Michelle Aravena)<\/em>.<\/strong>\u00a0 Dad <\/strong>is a hard working bus driver who makes just about enough money to pay the rent and put food on the table.\u00a0 Their kid witnesses a shooting by the local gangster, Sonny,<\/strong> well played by Joe Barbara, <\/strong>but when interviewed by the police, and asked to identify the shooter, Calogero,<\/strong> declines to pick the killer out of the lineup. This act becomes an immediate bond between he and Sonny,<\/strong> who nicknames him \u201cC.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Hence begins a tug of war for influence over the youngster between his dad and this exciting, well-dressed, slick guy who is free and easy with money.\u00a0 He gives \u201cC\u201d<\/strong> a hundred bucks for bringing him luck in a crap game during which Sonny, \u201cC\u201d<\/strong> and the ensemble sing \u201cRoll \u201cEm.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Over \u201cC\u2019s\u201d<\/strong> strong objections, dad returns the money to Sonny<\/strong> whose colorful gang members have Runyonesque<\/strong> names such as Handsome Nick,<\/strong> (Giovanni DiGabriele,) <\/em>Rudy the Voice, (John Gardiner,)<\/em> Frankie Coffeecake, (Robert<\/em><\/strong> Pieranunzi,)<\/em> Eddie Mush, (Mike Backes,)\u00a0 <\/em>JoJo the Whale (Michael Barra,)<\/em><\/strong> Crazy Mario (Joseph Sammour)<\/em> Tony-Ten-To-Two (Paul Salvatoriello,)<\/em><\/strong> and Sally Slick (Sean Bell).<\/em><\/strong> Sonny<\/strong> has profound effect on \u201cC\u2019s\u201d<\/strong> life, saving him from dying in an explosion that killed his friends.\u00a0 He recognizes early on that this kid is special and encourages him to make something of himself, which clearly he did as in addition to writing \u201cA Bronx Tale,\u201d<\/strong> the talented Mr. Palminteri<\/strong> has had a successful career with starring roles on stage, film and television.<\/p>\n

\"Jane<\/a>
A forbidden love between Jane (Brianna-Marie Bell) and Calogero (Joey Barreiro).<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jane<\/a>
(Center) Jane (Brianna-Marie Bell) with her Webster Avenue friends.<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sonny<\/a>
L-R: Sonny (Joe Barbara) with grown-up \u201cC\u201d (Joey Barreiro) who is seeking advice about his love life.<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Calogero\u2019s<\/a>
Calogero\u2019s loving parents Rosina (Michelle Aravena) and Lorenzo ((Richard H. Blake).<\/span> Photo: Joan Marcus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, what would a good story be without a complicated love life and here we have yet another version of the war between the Capulets and<\/strong> Montagues<\/strong> in Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cRomeo & Juliet,\u201d<\/strong> or the conflict between the white Jets<\/strong> and Puerto Rican Sharks<\/strong> in \u201cWestside Story.\u201d<\/strong> So, this young man falls in love with Jane, (Brianna-Marie Bell<\/em><\/strong>)<\/em> a black girl from Webster Avenue<\/strong>, forbidden territory for \u201cC\u201d<\/strong> and his gang, as is Belmont Avenue<\/strong> off limits for Jane\u2019s<\/strong> brother Tyrone <\/strong>(Antonio Beverly)<\/strong><\/em> and his gang.\u00a0\u00a0 Jane, Calogero, Tyrone, Denise (Ashley McManus)<\/em><\/strong> and Frieda (Brandi<\/em> Porter<\/em><\/strong>)<\/em> sing a rousing \u201cWebster Avenue.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Some of the other production numbers include, \u201cLook to Your Heart,\u201d \u201cGiving Back the Money,\u201d \u201cThese Streets,\u201d \u201cOut of Your Head,\u201d \u201cIn A World Like This,\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cThe Choices We Make.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

A lot of talent went into creating this production including Robert Westley\u2019s<\/strong> excellent fight sequences and William Ivey Long\u2019s<\/strong> costumes.\u00a0 Although there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this show – excellent acting and powerful legit voices – there is nothing particularly outstanding.\u00a0 It\u2019s akin to a satisfying meal that doesn\u2019t stick to your ribs or cause a bitter aftertaste.\u00a0 It\u2019s unmemorable, but nice.<\/p>\n

*schmaltz –<\/em> rendered (clarified) chicken or goose fat used for frying or as a spread on bread.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cA Bronx Tale\u201d<\/strong>
\nHollywood Pantages Theatre
\n6233 Hollywood Blvd.
\nLos Angeles, CA 90028<\/span><\/p>\n

Performance Schedule:<\/span><\/p>\n