‘TENOR BY NIGHT’ PREMIERES AT THE EL PORTAL
REVIEW: TENOR BY NIGHT
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
With shows like Fresh Off the Boat and the recent summer hit Crazy Rich Asians the Asian community is more and more receiving representation in the entertainment industry which is a boon for all minorities. That being said, the recent original musical Tenor by Night that played at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood this month contributes with a true story of an Asian American living the American Dream and surpassing expectations. Although the musical has good intentions it unfortunately falls short in its craftsmanship as a compelling piece of musical theatre. Written by James Chiao (book, music and lyrics), an owner of a mannequin company in Buena park, and true tenor by night; and his wife Lily Chiao (lyrics), the musical eschews almost all the desiderata that audiences expect for effective musical theatre storytelling.
Kevin Gino. PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Krieger.
For a new musical that only its infancy, the decision to mount the show in a large theatre complete with full sets, costumes, over twenty singers and dancers, and fourteen-piece orchestra is bold to say the least. Tenor By Night’s extravagant presentation proclaims that as far as the writers are concerned the musical is complete thus leaving audiences with the best version of this piece—this is a scary thought because even with all the show’s bells and whistles it’s far from complete, or even cohesive.
Tenor By Night can best be described as a farcical operetta with musical theatre elements. What begins as an ordinary true story about a man (James Chiao) who owns a mannequin factory, but wants to be a professional singer, begins to derail into a psychedelic trip to the Twilight’s Zone. Complete with singing and dancing luggage, lusty men in booty shorts, creepy mannequins brought to life to sing and dance, and a magician who turns people into mannequins; the story is simply too convoluted to garner any emotional investment from audiences—tonal problems abound.
(L-R) Alexandra Mitchell, Stefan Alexander Miller, Kevin Gino. PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Krieger.
The music is primarily operatic featuring wide melodies, recitative and everyone singing in their upper registers. Then when we get the hint of a musical theater tune, it’s redundant and callow. The lyrics follow suit with trite rhymes and ordinary language that leaves nothing to the imagination, simply people walking around the stage singing about what their feeling, thinking or doing—rather than propelling the plot the songs stop the show cold.
The saving grace of the show is the innumerable talent that fills the stage bringing Chiao’s unfiltered vision into reality. Leading the cast is Kevin Gino (James), a ringer from the Bay area—he is astounding. His robust and radiant voice brings sweetness to everything he sings—it’s the music that has the privilege to resound from Gino’s voice. His finest moments (and those in the show) are the medleys that include selections from Verdi’s, Leoncavallo’s, and Rossini’s popular melodies. The dance ensemble, led by Caitlyn Faucher and choregraphed by Becky Castells, is brilliant. All the dance moments in the show, even the dancing luggage fantasy, fill the stage with effervesce and flurry of the best kind. The elegant Spanish style pas de deux performed by Alexandra Mitchell and Kevin Gino near the end of act one is utterly elegant. Mitchell’s movement is effortless and hypnotic, even while in a gold body suit.
Lauren Han, and Kevin Gino. PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Krieger.
WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC DIRECTOR?
Music director, conductor and orchestrator Charles Fernandez has expertly prepared two-and-a-half hours of original music and orchestrations—the cast is singing these songs as if they’re musical standards.
Kevin Gino. PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Krieger.
Taken at face value Tenor by Night is an effusive vanity project, and in that regard it’s an impressive feat for Mr. Chaio and his family; however, as a singular piece of musical theatre it’s simply disenchanting. This just goes to show that appealing musicals are not easy to write and even more challenging when you don’t understand the medium in the first place.
