By Cory Bilicko
Managing Copy Editor
Even if we weren’t in the midst of an economic crisis and in need of escapist entertainment that elicits a bit of joy, International City Theatre’s current production of The All Night Strut would be a dazzling, engaging show. The musical revue that revives swing and big-band-era music was a late-season replacement for, of all things, The Grapes of Wrath– the Depression-era story of a destitute family of sharecroppers suffering through drought and a changing agriculture industry. A wise choice indeed.
One might expect a last-minute switch like this one to result in a hurriedly assembled staging that suffers from lack of rehearsal. Such is certainly not the case here, since each of the four performers remarkably contributes to each of the 28 songs- shimmying, lindying and cakewalking, before, after and while singing! (Besides the intermission, their longest break is 30 seconds.) Swooning or belting favorites like “Crazy Rhythm,” “Shoo Shoo Baby” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” they’re ability to provide top-notch singing while moving gracefully through these different dance forms is very impressive.
Assuaging any initial disappointment that there is a mere four-member cast, baritone Rodrick Covington, tenor Robert Moffat, soprano Cassandra Murphy and alto Victoria Platt comprise a spectacular representation of the female and male, white and black performers of yesteryear. It’s all done with gusto and pizazz, and they make it really hard to resist tapping your feet, clapping along and, at the very least, smiling and forgetting about the 401(k) or mortgage payments.
The All Night Strut continues through November 9 at the International City Theatre, at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Boulevard. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. for Sunday matinees. For more information, call (562) 436-4610 or visit www.ictlongbeach.
