The Reprise! theater group stages several classic musicals a year in short run, no-scenery productions up at Freud Hall at U.C.L.A. Tomorrow and Sunday are the last performances of their revival of Kismet, the 1953 musical which had a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, and songs by Robert Wright and George Forrest. Lederer and Davis were adapting a non-musical play by Edward Knoblock, while Wright and Forrest borrowed copious amounts of melody from Alexander Borodin. The reviews of this production said the book was stale and contrived and on one level, they're right…but we had a great time, nonetheless. The reviews also said the score was wonderful and on all levels, they're right…and it isn't just the known hits like "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" and "Stranger in Paradise." There's a lot of wonderful music in this show and it's great that Reprise! gives us the chance to discover or maybe rediscover it.
What really made this production work for me were strong performances by Len Cariou as the Poet, Caryn E. Kaplan as his daughter, Jennifer Leigh Warren as Lalume, Anthony Crivello as The Caliph and just about everyone. And of course, the whole shebang was stolen by my pal Jason Graae, who got every laugh it was possible to get as The Wazir…and then some. Jason has upcoming concert performances in Utah, Palm Springs, Palm Beach, Costa Mesa and Northern California. If you live in any of those places, consult his website for details and go. A wonderful performer.
Not much more to say about Kismet, especially since they only have three more performances and it's doubtful you can rush to any of them. As I always am with these "limited engagement" productions, I am amazed that they can mount an entire show and learn lines, staging and choreography in so little rehearsal time. The whole show is about magic and trickery but the most impressive trick is that they can do it at all. And so well at that.