Sondheim's "Company" by Gallery Players Proves Brooklyn is NEW New York

Bobby's birthday gift from his "Company"

 



[From time to time, I will upload to this blog articles I've published or written before on autobiography; nature; art, music, and dance; theater and film; poetry; other literature; urban planning; science and religion; and mental health. Here's a piece that wasn't published because Super Storm Sandy pre-empted all other coverage of events:]

 

When "Company" was first produced on Broadway in 1970, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and dialogue by George Furth, the setting was "NEW YORK CITY," the time: NOW. Of course, New York City was synonymous with Manhattan then, especially when you realize "company" had the double meaning of not only the hero bachelor Bobby's circle of married friends but also how Bobby's social life was a kind of rehearsal for...if not marriage, what? Perhaps he could play the swinging single forever!

NOW that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan, it's easy to imagine "Company" taking place in Park Slope. So it's doubly a propos that the Gallery Players, at 199 14th Street, between 4th and 5th avenues, is staging this musical comedy Thursday through Sunday, November 8 - 11. And although the individual efforts of the actors on October 21 (pre-Sandy) may not have equaled the gold standard of the 2007 Tony Award-winning revival cast, the overall performance was as high-spirited as an audience could desire. In fact, the physical limitations of this 120-seat venue were the mother of many inventions, especially in direction, set design and choreography.

While the show is famous for such solos as (It's the) "Little Things" (you do together), "Another Hundred People" (just got off of the train), (I'm not) "Getting Married Today," and (Here's to) "The Ladies Who Lunch," which pack as much verbal punch as possible into a musical score, it's the ensemble pieces that make "Company" live up to its name.

The Gallery Players' rendition of the opening, title number is pitch and picture perfect: "Phone rings, door chimes, in comes company!/No strings, good times, room hums, company!/Late nights, quick bites, party games, Deep talks, long walks, telephone calls,/Thoughts shared, souls bared, private names, All those photos up on the walls..." So much so that they almost set an impossible standard for themselves to follow.

With Bobby at center stage in his cage of an apartment, he conducts, like a maestro who knows the score all too well, the greetings of the couples ranged around him on his 35th birthday. As his friends figuratively come into his life, they literally roll out the walls of his apartment and descend from a frosted-glass balcony, behind which sits the orchestra like musical window-washers ably conducted by Charlotte Evans. Such economy of execution is the mark of a director, Andrew Block, and scenic designer, Kathryn Lieber, who have their act together.

In "Have I Got a Girl for You," the five husbands who are Bobby's peers try to woo him with dance steps as nimble as such lyrics: "She's into all those exotic mystiques: The Kama/Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than/seventy five.../Call me tomorrow if you're still alive." This is one of several examples when Melissa Riker's choreography is at its best but sometimes she relies too much on spoofing oldtime Broadway moves.

Of course, Bobby has his tried and "true" ways. Sleeping with the stewardess April conjures dreams of women in nightgowns coming out of the woodwork and snaking around his bed. Whether these are meant to be the wives dressed similarly in the previous scene, who lamented Bobby's poor choices in women, or merely a nightmarish reminder of all his one-night stands, it is another ingenious bit of staging, if only because the confusion also foreshadows Bobby's ultimate willingness to "make it" with Joanne, the most jaded of his married friends, (Granted they are both drunk at the time.)

The challenge for any actor who plays Bobby is not only his detachment from his friends and lovers but also from his own ambivalent feelings. How do you demonstrate the slow, stumbling growth of the character toward a self-awareness that depends not on the mere choice between being single or married but on the commitment to feeling deeply or really "Being Alive," as Bobby croons in the end?

It's hard to tell whether David Schoonover is opting to be a slow starter or lacks the subtlety of expression necessary for the role. However, he makes up for this ambiguity with a singing range that reveals Bobby gradually embracing his own potential.

Another possible difficulty is a tendency to overplay the comic routines. (I'm not) "Getting Married Today" is one of the funniest because it sounds like one of those declaimers in which the fine print is crammed at the end of a commercial. Sarah Stevens as Amy clearly gulps the lines down but is too hysterical (psychologically). Likewise, Diana Rose Becker's April is too cloying in her babbling foreplay with Bobby yet in parting the next morning for "Barcelona" she finds the right note of musical coyness.

Darcy Yellin and Cindy Marchionda also preen for laughs now and then. However, Yellin generally plays Marta, the Puerto Rican pistol, as just hot enough for the audience to handle and Marchionda keeps Joanne's drunkeness in cheeky check on (Here's to) "The Ladies Who Lunch."

In a play where the men are foils for their more colorful wives, and Bobby is in over his head with his girlfriends (who serenade him "You Could Drive A Person Crazy"), it's easy to conclude that the women in the cast, also including Debra Carozza, Dana Domenick, MargareEllen Jeffreys, and Katie Johannigman, are the stronger performers. This is reinforced by the evidence that, with the exception of David Schoonover, they are the better singers and dancers. But Chris Caron, Thom Christensen, Dominic Cuskern, John Gazzle, and Greg Horton hold down the marital fort with aplomb.

Finally, Bobby's comings and goings are framed by his friends gathering for a surprise birthday party in his apartment. Even theater-goers who have seen "Company" before may not remember the ending. Thus, the Gallery Players' production is well worth the reminder.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m.; also Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and children 12 and under. Call TheaterMania at (212) 352-3101 or go online at www.galleryplayers.com for box office purchases. You will find the theater at 199 14th Street, between 4th and 5th avenues, in Park Slope. Take the F train to 4th Avenue or the R to 9th Street. Or drive the BQE to Hamilton Avenue.

Hamilton's Beer, Wine, Food: A First for Kensington-Windsor Terrace

 

(Author's Note: This previously unpublished review was written in December, 2012. Since then, Hamilton's has expanded from dinner only to lunch-brunch, and a happy hour, that, as the article below suggests, is probably the restaurant's key to financial success. Although the findings here are dated, the basic "New American" fare, a la Alice Waters, plus comfort food, remains. For all its menus, google "Hamilton's.") 

 

Beer and wine joints are a dime a dozen in Brooklyn’s hippest neighborhoods. However, west of the Prospect Expressway, on either side of the border between Kensington and Windsor Terrace, “foodanistas” have been starved for nighttime gastronomic delights.

Thus, the new Hamilton’s, at 2826 Ft. Hamilton Parkway, on the corner of East 4^th Street, two blocks from the F train stop, is either a dream come true or the latest of many (perhaps failed) attempts to determine just how upscale the area has become.

The Oak and Iris, a previous effort at this site, provided decent, affordable fare, but apparently closed because it became more a breakfast-lunch hangout than a dinner place. In daylight, it competed with cafes across the street; after dark, it lacked a liquor license.

Georgia and Kevin Read, the owners of Hamilton’s, are also pitching their food prices to what the market can bear. Appetizers range from $4 to $9; entrees, $12-$18. (Whatever their pretentions, most Kensington-Windsor Terrace dwellers lack the disposable incomes of those living in Brownstone Brooklyn or even nearby Ditmas Park.)

Meanwhile, being a dinner-only establishment makes them unique, and, at $6-$10 a glass, Hamilton’s beer and wine offerings pad the bottom line. Of course, these low-alcoholic-content libations enhance the dining experience, as does the decor. The dark-grained wood bar and wainscoting, chartreuse walls, and overhead fans look so natural you’d think the place was a permanent watering (and nourishing) hole.    

On a recent Saturday evening, two months after its opening, Hamilton’s was packed with a surprising mix of young and old people; mostly white, like the surrounding nabe. Can the restaurant maintain the senior set’s loyalty in what is otherwise a noisy bar scene? This will be a key test because there are still many longtime, if not lifetime, residents around here. At 61, I felt invigorated by the sense of celebration in the room, even if chemically-induced in part.

I live two blocks from Hamilton’s. The restaurant rows on Cortelyou Road in Flatbush and on Prospect Park West, in the heart of Windsor Terrace, are each a 30-minute walk away. So I have a certain (non-monetary) investment in Hamilton’s success, though a little exercise before a meal wouldn’t hurt.

To keep myself honest, I invited my wife and sister-in-law along. They were raised on bratwurst and Miller’s in Wisconsin; I, on bland kosher food and Manischewitz in Connecticut. How much years of living in New York City have refined our tastes is another test of whether Hamilton’s will fit in our personal Zagats.

We started with the draft beers. Of the 18 on tap, we quaffed five. I prefer amber ales. The Peak Organic Fall Summit Ale from Maine and the Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin Ale fit the bill with their hints of fruitiness. My wife goes for darker brews. The Kelso Nut Brown and Davidson Brothers Oatmeal Stout (from upstate New York) compared favorably to her usual Guinness. True to her Midwestern roots, my sister-in-law gushed over Michigan’s Dark Horse Boffo Brown Ale. We agreed that our modest selection of beers alone was worth the visit. (Next time we’ll sample some of the dozen wines available.)

The dinner menu consists of about 12 appetizers and a half-dozen main dishes, plus a few specials. It’s “safely” eclectic, from mac and cheese and burgers to a salad with toasted faro (an Italian wheat product) and Korean kimchi (fermented cabbage) fried rice. This limited repertoire may initially make business and culinary sense—adequate market test, fewer recipes to master, less wastage (and no dumpster outside attracting vermin)—but could quickly become monotonous.

My wife selected one of the specials, seared tuna on a bed of fennel coleslaw, before balking at this sushi-like dish. Once the portion was fully cooked, she was satisfied, except for a suspicion the tuna wasn’t completely fresh. While my sister-in-law didn’t object to the searing of her hake, its marinade of leeks, oysters, and Shitake mushrooms in black olive oil was not strong enough to transform a mild-tasting relative of the cod family into something more to her liking. For me, the fish stew, of Manila clams, mussels, and hake in tomato-fennel broth, hit the spot. I bagged the leftover broth and fish juices to spice my own cooking.

While Brick City Bakery in Greenpoint provided the pleasantly yeasty rolls and grilled bread, Hamilton’s concocts its own desserts. Sprinkling sea salt on the flourless chocolate cake created a flavorful contrast. And the special French apple tart lived up to its name. Shared among us, the $8 cost for each was a bargain. Although I didn’t learn the brand of coffee, it lent a fine finishing touch to a meal, which wasn’t perfect, but warmed our heads and stomachs on the short walk home.

Hamilton’s is open for lunch, Monday-Friday, 11 AM-4 PM; brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM-4 PM; dinner, Sunday-Thursday, 4:30 PM-11 PM, Saturday and Sunday, 4:30 PM-midnight; and happy hours, Monday-Friday, 11 AM-7 PM. Take the F train to Ft. Hamilton Parkway, and exit at the Ft. Hamilton Parkway end of the station. Turn right onto that street. If driving, head toward Prospect Park Southwest and Park Circle, taking the Ft. Hamilton Parkway exit ramp. Or call 718-438-0488 for more information.          

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                   

Grow NYC's Youthmarket Keeps Windsor Terrace Lean and Green

It may sound like a cliché, but Grow NYC's Youthmarket, next to the Windsor Terrace branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, builds strong minds and bodies. 

On Saturday, September 14, I met workers Gabriel Carneho and Arkadydia Sefu, and Johnathan Miranda, who traveled respectively from the Bronx and Queens, and the Brooklyn coordinator of the farmers' market, Cindy Lee, at the corner of East 5th Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway. The teens were so busy serving customers, they barely had time to pose for a photo, let alone talk to me.  

 

Arrayed on tables under a big white tent were several varieties of apples and peaches; eggplant, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes; carrots and beets; collards and kale; red potatoes and onions; and parsley.

As with the 54 Greenmarkets Grow NYC runs throughout the five boroughs, these fruits and vegetables came from mainly upstate New York orchards and farms. However, instead of having the farmers sell their produce out of their own trucks, which takes up a lot of space, the more compact Youthmarkets can be set up on a street corner, such as the Windsor Terrace location.

They also receive their products from a clearinghouse, rather than individual farmers, thus assuring a more reliable, and varied flow of goods. There are four other Youthmarkets in Brooklyn; two in Brownsville, one in Cypress Hills, and another in East Williamsburg.   

I bought two bags full of eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and  parsley for 14 dollars. These were some of the ingredients I needed to prepare Macedonian salad, based on a recipe in the 1992 edition of Mollie Katzen's classic, vegetarian Moosewood Cookbook.

Youthmarkets has a triple goal--to bring fresh food to underserved neighborhoods thereby increasing the market reach of state farmers, and in the process training and employing local young people in a retail trade vital to the public health.

Compared to the other locations in Brooklyn, Windsor Terrace is not an underserved community. But the sponsor of this Youthmarket is Councilman Brad Lander, a longtime advocate for low-income residents. The fact that the workers at the Windsor Terrace stand came from the far reaches of the city demonstrate Lander's commitment to serving disadvantaged youth.

I bought the rest of the vegetables I needed at the unionized Foodtown, on the corner of MacDonald Avenue and Albermarle Road. (A cause celebre in the neighborhood is a boycott of a large market, Golden Farm, which is fighting an organizing effort by its largely Mexican-American workers.) These included red and green peppers, garlic, lemons, scallions, and olives.

I varied Katzen's recipe by roasting all the vegetables, not just the eggplant, and adding potatoes and pasta. This enhanced the sweetness of the peppers and tomatoes, in contrast to the slightly bitter (unpeeled) eggplant. The starch provided a base for the taste buds, not otherwise possible with this marinaded dish. (I kept Katzen's marinade of olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, scallions, parsley, basil, thyme, and marjoram, garnished with olives.)

The Macedonian salad (two soup pots full) I provided for Brooklyn Quaker Meeting's social hour on Sunday, September 15 was completely devoured by 100 worshipers.