By Michele Markarian
“Fascinating Rhythm” – Created by and Starring Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo. Presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston through July 16.
“Fascinating Rhythm,” created and performed by Kirsten Salpini and Jared Troilo, is a lively and entertaining tribute to the music of George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein, with the intimacy and warmth of a house party to which you’ve been specially invited. The two talented performers periodically don costumes (Gershwin and Bernstein, who else?), play piano, and sing their way – with inspired pockets of audience participation – through a well-rounded catalog of works by both composers.
The revue starts out with a fictitious meeting between Gershwin (Salpini) and Bernstein (Troilo), each composer convinced that he is the most musically influential of the twentieth century. Although the two never met in real life, the 19-year-old Bernstein was so stricken the day the 38-year-old Gershwin died he that he went to the piano at the camp he was working at to play Gershwin’s “Prelude #2”. The rivalry that Salpini and Troilo create is fueled by admiration, particularly once Gershwin gets wind of Bernstein’s rhythms.
The setlist showcases the duo’s piano-playing skills and vocals. Most are standards – “Love is Here to Stay,” “Embraceable You,” “Somewhere,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” – but there are a few delightful and quirky surprises as well, such as a rousing “Candide Overture,” and an inspired rendition of “Officer Krupke.” The fact that the two are accomplished actors, as well as musicians, gives the piece that much more depth.
There is an easy, attractive chemistry between them which got stronger in Act Two, particularly during the last song, “I Got Rhythm,” in which they incorporated things the audience was grateful for into the lyrics (we were asked to write these things down on slips of paper and put them into a little top hat during intermission). The results produced hilarity, both onstage and in the audience.
I was fortunate enough to catch the last show of “Fascinating Rhythm,” but don’t despair if you missed it. Rumor has it this talented duo will be performing it at more venues to come. I hope so.
