Long Story Short
Set design
Director: Kent Nickolson
San Diego Repertory Theatre
Long Story Short covers a romance and 50-year marriage in 98 minutes and 17 songs.
That’s quite a feat in itself – but it’s not half so impressive as the way it makes this old story seem fresh and new.
Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn, two-thirds of the folk-pop-rock trio Groovelily, workshopped the show last year; it has been updated and reworked for this delightful production, which plays through Sunday, Nov. 1, at San Diego Repertory Theatre. Kent Nicholson directs.
Twentysomethings Charles (Robert Brewer) and Hope (Melody Butiu) return to Charles’ apartment after a rocky first dinner date and “a little too much wine, a little too much garlic.” Both are awkward and nervous (and Hope is a little sick), and conversation does not go well.
Charles knows immediately that she’s the one – and sings his thought, rather endearingly: “I wish we could skip all the in-between stuff and get right to grandkids.”
But the ambitious Hope is less impressed with this charming but clueless guy (“I want someone who doesn’t in the least resemble this nice nerd,” she sings).
He does his best to appear debonair, but laments that “I keep telling myself to be mysterious and aloof, but every time I look at you, I just turn into me.”
Still, there’s a tiny spark of interest that pushes her to try another date, and the rest of the story follows this bicultural pair (he’s Jewish; she’s Asian American) through their roller-coaster courtship and typically bumpy marriage (and brief separation), and into old age. Brewer and Butiu, well matched vocally and dramatically, are absolutely convincing as well as wonderful to listen to.
Based on David Schulner’s play An Infinite Ache, the plot of Long Story Short is reminiscent of another favorite musical about relationships, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
That’s quite a feat in itself – but it’s not half so impressive as the way it makes this old story seem fresh and new.
Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn, two-thirds of the folk-pop-rock trio Groovelily, workshopped the show last year; it has been updated and reworked for this delightful production, which plays through Sunday, Nov. 1, at San Diego Repertory Theatre. Kent Nicholson directs.
Twentysomethings Charles (Robert Brewer) and Hope (Melody Butiu) return to Charles’ apartment after a rocky first dinner date and “a little too much wine, a little too much garlic.” Both are awkward and nervous (and Hope is a little sick), and conversation does not go well.
Charles knows immediately that she’s the one – and sings his thought, rather endearingly: “I wish we could skip all the in-between stuff and get right to grandkids.”
But the ambitious Hope is less impressed with this charming but clueless guy (“I want someone who doesn’t in the least resemble this nice nerd,” she sings).
He does his best to appear debonair, but laments that “I keep telling myself to be mysterious and aloof, but every time I look at you, I just turn into me.”
Still, there’s a tiny spark of interest that pushes her to try another date, and the rest of the story follows this bicultural pair (he’s Jewish; she’s Asian American) through their roller-coaster courtship and typically bumpy marriage (and brief separation), and into old age. Brewer and Butiu, well matched vocally and dramatically, are absolutely convincing as well as wonderful to listen to.
Based on David Schulner’s play An Infinite Ache, the plot of Long Story Short is reminiscent of another favorite musical about relationships, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.