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09/14/2010
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By: Joel Benjamin

Hollywood! Hollywood! has all the vintage charm of an old-fashioned summer stock musical: energy, intimacy, exuberance,
un-amplified singing, off-kilter dancing and an obviousness that smacks the audience in the face. Written by composer/lyricist Lou
Briggs, Hollywood! keeps the songs coming and the slightly simplistic story rambling along. Stephen Sondheim need not fear any
threat to his stature as the premier theater composer of our time but Jerry Herman might just have an odd twinge as Mr. Briggs` songs
have his feel-good sensibility, suiting the mood and storyline perfectly.
The storyline: young Hollywood hopefuls commune with each other at
the Hollywood Bar and Grill where the frustrations and joys of their private and
professional lives intersect in song and dance. All have grindingly boring jobs as
they await their big breaks. A cutie-pie dog walker, Ryan (Jacob Atom Reilly)
falls for the lovely waitress Melanie (Julia Hirsch); hyper Jay (Evan Schultz) is a
party-entertainer/comic; Trudy (Rebecca Kopec), the cast wiseacre, sells
cosmetics door-to-door. Their friends include Claire (TracyLynn Conner),
Concepcin (Kim David) Amanda (Kelsey Arlen), and Eva (Katelyn Collins).
Joseph Charles Bellino plays several roles that call for his particular dark good
looks. Plus there is Vincent the Magnificent, played by a muscular, square-jawed
Frederick Hamilton who is the supposed paramour of movie star Laura Tanner
(Trudi Posey). She wafts into the Bar and Grill to spread her munificence and
glamour. Laura`s true love is Freddy (Robert ZanIini), her mature, jocular New York publisher Iriend, whom the plot has her
eventually marrying, leaving a relieved Vincent able to woo the pretty Claire. The relationship between Ryan and Melanie has its ups
and downs, but all ends well with all the couples happily united and everyone receiving 'Hollywood Contracts Irom Laura Tanner.
The cast works hard with Mr. Briggs` songs which range Irom
contemplative love songs ('I Hear the Music When I`m Dancing with
You, 'Love Birds) to quick-witted patter ('Sitting at Home Eating Bon
Bons and Doing My Nails, 'I`m Gonna Be a Movie Star) to straight out
pastiche ('I Come to You, 'Hollywood! Hollywood!).
Mr. Reilly and Ms. Hirsh are convincing and lovely as the
struggling young couple and Mr. Hamilton as the leading man reveals
some inner softness and angst. Ms. Kopec is the comic belter of the group
and Mr. Schultz is manic and rubber faced, a bit overdone, but funny.
TracyLynn Conner has a clarion voice that impresses with its intensity and
many colors. Mr. Zanfini, the senior cast member was the most
straightforward in his performance, imposing his years of experience on
the likeable older Freddy. Ms. Posey has the most unrewarding job of portraying a big star. She is a mature performer, with an
intimate charisma, and it is to her credit that her Laura Tanner comes across as a human being rather than as a cliched 'star.
Marcus Yi, the director/choreographer, showed great imagination keeping the action well-paced. Also creative were the
simple sets and costumes. Tablecloths doubled as skirts and pieces of furniture were constantly re-arranged to simulate everything
Irom Melanie`s little Ilat to the glamorous Rainbow Room. Mr. Yi`s improvisations were certainly helped by Andela Armand`s
costumes which simulated both the glamorous and the mundane. The entire production was produced and guided by John Lant who
clearly loves theater and most particularly actors.
Hollywood! Hollywood! . it`s heart is in the right place. It is obvious, clichd, but most of all entertaining !!!!

HOLLYWOOD! HOLLYWOOD!
Write Act Eastside @ the Richmond Shepard Theat re 309 East 26th St. New Yor k, NY 10010
Thursdays through Sundays, August 28th September 19th, 2010 - Tickets: 646-770-2316
More Information: http://www.hollywoodhollywood.org or http://www.writeact rep.org