This musical tribute to director/choreographer Graciela Daniele is beautiful to look at and mostly delightful to know. It was created musically by Michael John LaChiusa for Daniele–his good friend and colleague. They first worked together in 1993 when the composer/lyricist had just begun work on his adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde. They met; he played her one song–the opening number–and she said “Yes!” It’s now thirty years later and this current show at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre in Lincoln Center is soon concluding its very rewarding run. There are many lilting melodies and some very engaging lyrics with which it tells us, in 90 uninterrupted minutes, much about how Daniele as a poor girl in Argentina was influenced by a demanding Mother, a very vocal grandmother, and a charming Aunt (called “Tia”). Graciela tells us the story of her life through actress Priscilla Lopez (now in her seventies) in the present tense in her own late 70s. Graciela as a teenager growing into young adulthood is played by Kalyn West. This is a musical tribute remembered as a strong group of women with little room left for the occasional man as father, grandfather, and two mustached suitors.
Eden Espinosa, Kaylan West, Mary Testa, Andéa Burns Photos by Julieta Cervantes
An excellent cast has been assembled, with particular pleasure offered by Priscilla Lopez who brings warmth, honesty, and imagination to the role of Daniele in her older age. She also moves so beautifully, it was no surprise to see her agility and grace when her memories demand a step or two. Tía is played by always welcomed Andréa Burns who seems to delight us each season with her glorious voice, her ability to get nuance into every role she plays, and to dance up a storm when her character needs to kick up her heels. There are some 16 numbers listed in the Playbill, and I found that some of the later ones were more than one act could comfortably handle, but it was Daniele herself who directed and choreographed the entire evening. It is just a suggestion, but I felt an editing eye would have been helpful.
Andréa Burns, Mary Testa, Priscilla Lopez, Eden Espinosa Photos by Julieta Cervantes
The sets, and particularly the lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhower were notably eloquent and gave the entire musical an ambience that seemed to say “Thank you” to Daniele the Artist for enriching our theatre so handsomely over these past thirty five years.