Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara devastate in Lucas and Guettel’s coiled and uncompromising DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES

• By drediman
• July 1, 2023
• No Comments

Last week at the Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea, I had the opportunity to catch up with the highly anticipated world premiere musical Days of Wine and Roses by Craig Lucas (book) and Adam Guettel’s (music and lyrics), courtesy of Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company. Adapted from JP Miller’s 1958 teleplay and JP subsequent 1962 Warner Brothers film of the same name, the new musical tells the story of a handsome, much-in-love 1950s couple who succumb to alcoholism over the course of their relationship and marriage.

The musical marks Lucas and Guettel’s first collaboration since their swoon-inducing 2003 musical adaptation of The Light in the Piazza (which just enjoyed a moving Encores! revival last week), in my opinion one of the most romantic musicals of all time. However, those of you looking for a musical that sweeps you off your feet like The Light in the Piazza does, be forewarned. Days of Wine and Roses is emotionally turbulent stuff, and a decidedly difficult musical to sit through given its tough subject matter – which doesn’t detract from the work’s artistic merits, however. Indeed, both Lucas and Craig have created an uncompromising, clear-eyed work that doesn’t shy away from diving headlong into the darkness of the human soul and psyche. Guettel’s jazzy chamber score is a coiled concoction, in turn moody and lyrical, and a far cry from the swelling expansiveness (those strings!) of his work on The Light in the Piazza (or even his excellent twangy early career musical Floyd Collins, which seriously needs a major New York revival). Every step of the way, Craig’s book works organically and seamlessly with the Guettel’s swaths of music to convey the story in a single voice.

The production is led by the enticing pairing of luminous Tony-winner Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James (who started their careers co-starring together in the ill-fated 1998 Marvin Hamlisch musical Sweet Smell of Success), both of whom give fully committed portrayals of inherently decent people on a steep downward spiral. As a study of alcoholism – and more broadly, addiction – it’s devastating to watch their trajectory, even as you admire how the two fine singing actors (Ms. O’Hara, in particular, is in spectacular voice) fearlessly sink their teeth into the material. Although their latter scenes need to dig just a tad deeper to unlock the drama’s potential impact (which may also may be a function of the writing), it’s something that can be easily fixed through a few minor calibrations. The premiere Atlantic Theater Company production has been skillfully directed by Michael Greif, who gives the material a period perfect staging that belies its sensitivity to the musical’s difficult underlying themes.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
Off-Broadway, Musical
Atlantic Theater Company at the Linda Gross Theater
1 hour, 40 minutes (without an intermission)
Through July 16