Theatre West presents the musical comedy SATURDAY
NIGHT AT GROSSINGER'S, a tunefull tale about one
of the most popular resorts and entertainment centers
located in the Catskill mountains of New York state,
and the family that ran the place like it was family!
The
setting begins on the main stage at the resort during
the dinner show on a winter's night. Seems that
the entertainment for the evening, consisting of
Judy Garland, comic Alan King, and the dancing team
of The Nicholas Brothers, couldn't get through the
snow due to their tour bus being stuck along nearby
highway 17. So the entire Grossinger family consisting
of Papa (Larry Gelman) Elaine (Eydie Alyson) Paul
(Jeff Wiesen), Harry (Bruce Katzman), and Jennie
(Barbara Minkus) put the show on by themselves.
>From there, the family begins to unfold on the
history of their pride and joy starting when Papa,
who arrived to America is the early 20th Century
from "the old country" to make a life,
bought a small parcel of land to start a farm and
to have daughter Jennie start a family. The family
part was a success, but the farm was a failure!
So in order to take care of expenses, they decide
to take in boarders. >From there, the boarding
house became a resort where folks from the New York
City boroughs could escape the heat of the summer
(as well as the soot and grime of the city), for
a few days of rest and relaxation while dining (constantly),
and being entertained by some of show biz's
big name stars, as well as plenty of other entertainers
who would later become bigger names in their own
right!!
This charming musical with book by Stephen Cole,
music by Claibe Richardson and lyrics by Cole and
Ronny Graham, conceived by Rita Lakin and Doris
Silverton, is a loving tribute to the days when
such resorts were the place to go for the finest
of food (much of it was kosher since these resorts
attracted much of the Jewish population of New York
city and northern New Jersey), and the best choice
of entertainment outside of Broadway! The musical
score is very lively and the lyrics catchy. Paul
Chippello's musical direction with Mark Tavarez
on bass, Craig Fine on the drums, and Chappello
on the piano give this musical a feel of the days
when stage shows were real stage shows, created
to please all! The entire cast playing the Grossinger
family is wonderful, including Berry Pearl as Sheldon
Seltzer, the waiter turned comical MC who rattles
the jokes and gags to keep the audience well amused.
But the real star of the show is Barbara Minkus.
Her musical ability to sing in a comical way gives
this stage production its charm and appeal. She's
a little dynamo with her signing as well as her
comic timing! With her performance, she really
presents a longing for such stage shows of a not-so-long
ago period. A bit of trivia: the premise of this
production was actually based on a real event that
occurred at Grossinger's around 1962, when Garland,
King, et. al, couldn't perform due to the weather
and the family had to make sure that the show would
go on by presenting it by themselves! The audience
as expected, loved it!
Another note is Melissa Ficociello's set design
of a stage complete with those gold colored shiny
'curtain' ribbons, the kind that was popular in
Las Vegas stage shows at that time. Since Vegas
was nearly 3000 miles away, one would still get
a feel of the that desert town. (Minus the gambling
of course!)
Directed
by Susan Morgenstern, with choreography by Devra
Korwin, SATURDAY NIGHT AT GROSSINGER'S in a wonderful
musical to experience and enjoy. If one remembered
attending some of those Catskill resorts located
within the 'borsch belt', then this musical is for
them! For the rest of those who never knew what
it was like being there, then this production will
show what one missed out on! Jewish or Gentile,
this musical is the place to be! And who says that
they don't make 'em like they used to anyway??
The Tolucan
A Trip to the Borscht Belt
It was a stroll down memory lane for the folks that
packed Theatre West to see the musical comedy “Saturday
Night at Grossinger’s.” And it was a
very personal journey for Sherman Oaks’ own
Larry Gelman. He says, “It’s déjà
vu! As a kid I worked as a bellboy at the Catskills
resort and had the pleasure of knowing the Grossinger
family personally. It’s a happy trip back
in time to revisit ‘the Borscht belt.’”
As Papa, Larry sings, dances a little and helps
recreate the story of Jennie Grossinger (played
by the dynamo Barbara Minkus), the force behind
the famous Jewish vacation spot that excluded no
one. It was embraced by New Yorkers who wanted to
breathe some fresh air for awhile and had the reputation
for treating the guests like family. Entertainment
and over-abundance of food was their hallmark. “How
do you lose weight at Grossinger’s? Go home.”
The show, produced by June Sattler and cleverly
directed by Susan Morgenstern, is a gem, filled
with heart and humor. Go, laugh a little, it couldn’t
hurt
Metro
LA Magazine
April 12-26 edition
Chit
Chat
by Don Crigware
Sat. Nite at Grossinger’s
My favorite musicals have both entertainment value
as well as substance a la Stephen Sondheim and James
Lapine. They tell an appealing story and are sometimes
based on real-life characters as with Gypsy.
Theatre West’s world premiere Saturday Night
at Grossinger’s fits the bill and should be
Broadway bound at some point in the near future.
Susan Morgenstern directs Stephen Cole’s
thoroughly new show (conceived by Rita Lakin) that
is a surefire instant hit for TW! An original,
fresh and funny historical musical bio -vaudeville
style - of the Grossinger family’s entertainment
enterprise in the Catskills, this show has it all,
even a dramatic monologue in song like “Rose’s
Turn” from Gypsy or “Losing My Mind”
from Sondheim’s Follies for star Barbara Minkus
as Jennie Grossinger.
Minkus turns in a blockbuster performance, along
the lines of her Molly Picon portrayal in Picon
Pie a couple of years back. She played the
diminutive star first at the Santa Monica Playhouse
and last summer brought the show into New York.
Minkus has a great voice, is one hell of an
actress and lends Jennie Grossinger all the guts
and gusto she has to give. Grossinger was
known as a superior businesswoman — married
to her job, in fact -- sometimes to the exclusion
of dealing with her own family.
Other players in the company such as Barry Pearl
as the talented waiter Sheldon (in unrequited love
with Jennie), and the very funny Larry Gelman as
Papa Grossinger give the show much of its comedic
flair. Praise as well goes to Eydie Alyson
and Jeff Wiesen as Jennie’s children Elaine
and Paul and to Bruce Katzman as husband Harry Grossinger
(who just happened to be Jennie’s cousin as
well).
Katzman is an old friend, and I was excited to see
him hold his own in the singing and tap dancing
department. Grossinger’s came to fame long
before Las Vegas, and it is important to note that
.Jennie was amongst the first to welcome all religions,
creeds and nationalities to her establishment. She
was a hostess with the mostest who made a difference.
Some wrong decisions? Never about the business.
Martha Stewart she wasn’t, but then
again nobody’s perfect. Jennie’s weakness
was in keeping the family united and in a good Jewish
clan sometimes it takes a papa’s love and
understanding to help get things moving on the right
track again. Praise goes to a couple of artists
who are unfortunately no longer with us - Claibe
Richardson who wrote the music and Ronny Graham
who wrote lyrics with Cole. Glitzy set design by
Melissa Ficociello is the ideal look for this ‘showbiz’
show. Don’t miss it, thru May 15 only!
