Something unusual happened in the theater last night. I found myself moved by the curtain call for the musical “A Bronx Tale,” The Rev’s season opener.
There was nothing strange about the staging of final bows for the large cast, but something emanated from that stage which we rarely see—or feel. That something was a sense of joy in ensemble, a community onstage. That energy lifted “A Bronx Tale,” a familiar story of coming of age in difficult surroundings in a way I hadn’t expected.
“A Bronx Tale” began as an autobiographical one-man show by actor Chazz Palminteri; it was an off Broadway sensation in 1989. The piece was so admired by Robert De Niro that the star chose to make a film version of “A Bronx Tale” as his first directorial effort in 1993. The movie, starring Palminteri and De Niro was critically acclaimed, and the musical, which hews closely to the outline of the original followed 13 years later. It ran for almost two years on Broadway.
The musical itself is a skillfully constructed Faustian story. “A Bronx Tale” recounts a battle for the soul of young Calogero Anello (a stand-in for Palminteri himself), growing up in The Bronx Italian enclave of Belmont Avenue in the 1960s. Calogero is torn between the seductive life of a criminal as personified by Sonny, the local wise guy and the steady working class existence of his bus driver father Lorenzo.
Mike Keller as Sonny and Trevor James as Calogero in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “A Bronx Tale.”Ron Heerkens Jr.
As a child, Calogero witnesses the mobster shoot someone, but doesn’t pick him out of a line-up. He becomes Sonny’s good luck charm and his shadow. As he grows into his teens, Calogero, re-named “C” by his mentor, is respected on the streets because of his connections. He goes to high school alongside students from Webster Avenue, the Black neighborhood just a few blocks away from Belmont where Jane, his first love, lives.
The songs are by Oscar and Tony winner Alan Menkin with lyrics by Glenn Slater, and the score holds reflections of Menkin’s “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Little Mermaid.”
A couple of nifty doo-wop numbers, the “Belmont Avenue” and its mirror image second act opener “Webster Avenue,” set the era in place, and show how the kids in both neighborhoods are more alike than they think.
Miracle Myles as Tyrone, Tuesday Usry as Denise, and Christian Perkins as Jesse in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “A Bronx Tale.”Ron Heerkens Jr.
Sonny’s songs have a properly 1960s Rat Pack sound. “Nicky Machiavelli,” a jaunty ode to his own literary hero, asserts, “The answer ain’t love, it’s fear.” “One of the Great Ones” advising Calogero to taking a chance on first love, could easily be a Sinatra cover.
The storyline flattens a little bit on the musical stage, reaching just a little too high for the heartfelt and missing the brutality of the life Sonny represents.
Calogero’s vacillation between Sonny’s life of power peppered with valuable advice and his father’s solid if sometimes flawed values seems a little pat. But at The Rev, because of the terrific ensemble and some deft character work, the entire package is marvelously entertaining, with just enough truthful moments to lift the evening.
As Calogero, who narrates the story, Trevor James moves and charms with a little of the slickness of a nascent mafioso until he’s caught in the trap of young love across racial lines.
The Jane subplot, a clear “West Side Story” riff, was added by De Niro for the film and was drawn from his own life. It feels fresher here than it should, thanks to James’s chemistry with the radiant Arjaye Christina, who has a gorgeous voice and flashes a thousand-watt smile.
Tuesday Usry as Denise, Sophia Hillman as Frieda, and Arjaye Christina as Jane in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “A Bronx Tale.”Ron Heerkens Jr.
Mike Keller plays Sonny with a benign weariness. He knows these guys don’t need to shout, and he quietly dominates every scene he’s in. The charismatic Sonny towers over the proceedings and Keller (excuse the expression) kills it.
The way the show is constructed, with Sonny at the center, the role of concerned dad Lorenzo doesn’t register as strongly as it did in the film with De Niro’s own gravitas shifting the weight. At The Rev, Alan Chandler does what he can, standing up to Sonny with righteous anger of a parent seeing his son go wrong. He’s best in the early scenes with Young Calogero, played with gusto by on opening night by Rhys Natoli (who shares the role with Benjamin DeBenedetto).
The strongest part of the Rev production is its spirited ensemble, which is deftly guided by director Brett Smock. Each character, whether bearing a colorful moniker like a mug from “The Sopranos” or moving in the background on Milo Bue’s scenic design, is clearly defined. The choreography by Elle May Patterson is sharp and witty.
“A Bronx Tale” doesn’t hold many surprises. Even though it’s based on Chazz Palminteri’s own youth, the story is archetypal. The Rev production exploits the familiarity and explodes with energy.
Emma Sucato, Erica Peréz-Gotay, and Caroline Desmarais perform in The REV Theatre Company’s production of “A Bronx Tale.”Ron Heerkens, Jr. / Goat Factory Media Entertainment, LLCShow details
What: “A Bronx Tale,” produced by The Rev.
Where: Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Emerson Park, Auburn.
When seen: June 3.
Length of performance: 2 hours and 10 minutes with intermission.
Family guide: Fine for high school age. Stylized violence and some vulgarities.
Run through: June 20.
Information: (315) 255-1785, therevtheatre.com