*****If you are familiar with the painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on  the Island of La Grande Jatte” by George Seurat, with its amazing color and style, you might find the musical piece written by James LaPaine ( book) and Stephen Sondheim ( music & lyrics), a story that will capture your interest into what might have been the “back story” to this work of art. The musical work, takes us into the past and present, containing some truths about life, love, and the creation of art itself. I must tell you that I was concerned about how Kokandy Productions, one of  the city’s most creative, would pull it off.

Kokandy has been known for their chamber musicals in the past, and over the last few years, they have produced some powerful works in their Chopin Downstairs Studio Theatre. Part of the chemistry in this venue is the proximity between performers and audience members. In many cases, audience members feel that they are in the show. I have seen a great number of productions of “Sunday in the Park With George”, and had my doubts that director (Derek Van Barham)and set designer (Stone TeSelle) could make the all sides available concept work. They worked it to absolute perfection, including the Act One ending where the painting comes to life! WOW!

The play is a wonderful story being told, live, as it appears to be happening. Act one has us in France observing George Seurat ( Kevin Webb is an artist that continues to prove just how talented he is and how he truly understands Sondheim and his creations). He is primarily drawing Dot ( an incredible performance by Missy Wise Vanderzee), but all of the other characters that end up in the painting are also a part of the act, allowing us to watch the work of art come to life and having a back story to go with each of them. The musical pieces are very unique and special, helping to bring the story to us. “Color and Light”, “Finishing The Hat”, “We Do Not Belong Together”, “Sunday In The Park With George”, and “Sunday” are its highlights.

The second act begins with all of the painting’s characters filing their complaints, “It’s Hot Up Here”, and slowly leaves that period, taking us to more modern times and a different George ( still portrayed by Webb) who might be the great-grandson of the Seurat. He is more of a scientist using light and lazers to create his art and he is appearing with his grandmother Marie (Vanderzee again). During this act we learn a great deal about what took place when Dot left France with the baker and had her child/ We also get to meet a lot of new people, played by the ensemble who were members of the painting itself, and as the second act progresses, we learn a great deal more about those people and love and life itself. The second act is shorter and has fewer songs but I must say, the reprises make more sense once you get deeper into the characters, so you will enjoy “Sunday”, “Gossip”, and “Move On’, and one of my favorites, “Putting it Together”.

Here is my tip of the hat to an ensemble that truly understands this wonderful work and how to bring this art to life in the basement of The Chopin Theatre:

Nick Arceo, Danny Andrew Bennett, Rachel Carreras, Ella Carson, Emily Holland, Lauren Miller, Z Moore, Kyrajo Petit-Walla, Samantha Ringor, Nathe Rowbothan, Jack Saunders, Abraham Shaw, Elexis Selan, Sarah Seidler, Halli Morgan, Brady Magruder, David Gordon-Johnson, Brittney Brown, and Gabriel Levy. Great work!

The musicians under the direction of Evelyn Ryan  ( grand piano)were magnificent ( this is not easy music as Sondheim knows no bounds). Thanks to: Fernando Chapa ( French Horn), Andrew Milliken ( Keyboards 2), Adam Nigh (woodwinds), Matt Wolf ( cello) and Mickey York ( keyboards 3). The Music Director was Nick Sula.The tech people did some clever work as well. The props ( Julian Weslander), Costumes (Rachel Sypniewski), Sound ( Matt Reich), lighting (G “Max” Maxin IV) and stage manager ( Kendyl Meyer) and their workers kept the flow going where no time was ever lost in space.

I know there are many theater people who are not into Sondheim ( I for one can’t understand that) but this is one that you need to put on your MUST SEE list. Once again Kokandy Productions has created a masterpiece of a masterpeice in a place where I did not think it could be done, THEY DID IT!

“Sunday In The Park With George” will continue Thru – Nov 1st with performances as follows: