(OUTview NW) RE-view: Live on Stage's "Falsettos" is a Fitting Tribute to Life imitating Art!

Whizzer's Last Falsetto?         Photo:LOS

by MK Scott

I admit I had never heard of Finn and Lapine's 1992 BROADWAY Musical, Falsettos, until 1999 when the Seattle Men's Chorus performed 2 numbers as part of their Broadway themed concert, "Gentleman Prefer Broadway". One number was March of the Falsettos and the other was What more can I say? (In 2000, as a member of the chorus, we performed this at a wedding of 2 other chorus members.)

Just to hear those 2 songs alone was good enough for me to travel down to Portland to see our friends at Live on Stage (Last year was Rocky Horror and then Spring Awakening in 2012). The Icing was this year was a tribute to the late, great Rob Buckmaster. Buckmaster was a staple in the Portland Theater scene in the early 90's and lost his battle to AIDS in 1995. Live on Stage's Director, John Oules is the marketing Director of Our House of Portland and is the chair of the Rob Buckmaster Fund at the Equity Foundation.

Buckmaster's Legacy       Photo: MKS

In Honor of 20th Anniversary of his passing, they showcased Buckmaster's Quilt panel in the lobby. Another reason is Buckmaster played the part of the AIDS-inflicted character of Whizzer in the 1995 Triangle Production of Falsettos. Life imitating Art, when Buckmaster was dying just like his character in show.

Falsettos is an Stephen Sondheim style Operetta (set from 1979 to 81) that tells the typical early 80's story of Marvin (Matt Brown, Brad from last year's Rocky Horror) who leaves his wife, Trina (Courtney Freed) for Whizzer (Played Brilliantly by Tim Suenkel).

Hale (w/ Brown) was the Shows Center    Photo: LOS

Stuck in the middle of the resentment and jealously is their 12 yr old son, Jason (played by future BIG star, Hudson Hale, who we recently saw as Patrick in the Oules directed, Mame at the Lakewood). Hale is phenomenal and handles the adult subject matter with ease. We feel Jason's emotions as he is torn with his parents and his devotions to his second father, Whizzer. It was incredibly brave for Hale to put on a hoop skirt and perform in the March of the Falsettos.

Marvin's Therapist, Mendal (The entertaining, Norman Wilson) falls for Trina and becomes part of the family. Freed's Trina is the only woman in Act one carrying the show, when in Act 2, it is saved by the incredible Lesbian Couple of Charlotte (Annie Kaiser) and Cordelia (Claire Rigsby, Magnetta in Rocky Horror) and providing the somber Act 2 a much needed dose of Pizzazz!

Rigsby and Kaiser are Hysterical       Photo: LOS

After Whizzer gets diagnosed and is Hospitalized, Jason's upcoming Bar Mitzvah is moved to the Hospital room? Yes, it is 1981 before the official AIDS panic.The 80's Costumes was spot on from the colors and even the stone-washed jeans, I could swear some could have come out of Oules' closet! BTW..I have known Oules for over 25 yrs.

All and All, the 2nd act was the best and had the right balance of sadness and humor and I am sure Rob is looking down and feeling proud that he is being remembered and loved.

FALSETTOS runs through October 10 at the World Trade Center Theater. For tickets, visit http://liveonstage.us.