Pompano Players Sets The World Goes Round Revue In An Airport

By Aaron Krause

Flight is an apt metaphor for life. Indeed, our existence includes highs, such as celebrations for achievements and happy milestones. Obviously, life also comes with lows, such as disappoints, disagreements, diseases, failures, and tragedies. While we live, we experience turbulent moments of disorder, distress, and disharmony. But thankfully, life also presents moments of love, levity, and “smooth sailing,” (or flying, in this case).

We may feel strong and satiated during stable times with few, if any, bumps along the way. And while we may feel helpless during challenging moments, we battle through them, hopefully with help from others.

With all this in mind, an airport setting makes sense for Pompano Players’ energetic and classy current production of the John Kander & Fred Ebb musical revue, The World Goes ‘Round.

The production, which continues through May 4 in the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, takes place in an unspecified airport. Its interior, designed with appropriate detail by scenic designer Claudia Smith and an uncredited video designer, is where the production starts out. From there, without leaving the airport, the show transports us to different times and places, from the Roaring 20s of Chicago for the musical Chicago to World War II-era Berlin for Cabaret.

While some transitions between numbers are stronger than others, the show offers more than a concert with haphazardly arranged songs. In fact, the revue centers on five unnamed people navigating through a world of travel, love, babies, coffee, frustration, and exhilaration.

Under director Jeremy Quinn’s creative direction, the production stars a harmonious quintet of five triple threat performers, wearing Penelope Williams’ becoming costumes. They are: Amber Arevalo, Ron Destefano, Eve Dillingham, Kevin Hicapie and Amanda Lopez. They wrap their strong, clear, and expressive voices around familiar songs from such Kander and Ebb shows as Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, The Rink, New York, New York, and Funny Lady. One particularly impressive feat is the performers’ ability to hold notes for seemingly many seconds.

When the performers sing, a live band richly accompanies them. The musicians are Elijah Gee (musical director/pianist), Rupert Ziawinski (bass), Julie Jacobs (drums), Michael Hankins (trumpet), and Maureen Amaral (reeds).

Kander (born in 1927) and Ebb (1928-2004) were a creative, versatile, and dynamic musical theater writing team. They created scores for 15 Broadway musicals over a period of nearly five decades. The duo’s output also included songs for the screen. Kander composed the music. He became famous for his sophisticated and versatile musical style that ranged from traditional Broadway to jazz and vaudeville influences. Meanwhile, Ebb wrote lyrics featuring sharp wit, biting irony, and emotional honesty.

The entire show is sung through; there is no dialogue in between songs to offer commentary, background, or exposition. Including a narrator for such purposes may have helped audience members new to Kander & Ebb, and those unfamiliar with lesser-known shows and songs by the duo in the revue. Also, this production’s team could have included a list of the revue’s shows and songs in the program, and match titles with the performers singing them.

This musical revue takes its title from a tune that Kander and Ebb wrote for Eliza Minnelli to sing in the 1977 film New York, New York. Of course, the song’s title is And the World Goes ‘Round.

The revue’s creators, Susan Stroman, David Thompson, and Scott Ellis, establish the theme of a constantly spinning world through good times and bad at the beginning of the show, with the title song.

To their credit, the creators have chosen to stress the positive at the top of the show. After the title song, we hear a song titled “Yes,” from the 1971 Broadway musical, 70, Girls, 70 It encourages us to say “Yes” to get the most from life.

One of this revue’s delights, the rousing and fast-paced song “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup,” follows “Yes.” Obviously, the performers sing “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup” faster than other numbers. However, while singing faster, they do not sacrifice clarity. The song explores the problem with a life that is far too rushed and caffeinated. Perhaps you can relate.

Under co-director and choreographer Keren Lydia, the performers sometimes dance or move in circles. This is appropriate for a show titled The World Goes ‘Round. Other moves such as spins and physical maneuvers such as lifting another performer enhances the revue’s energy.

At different points during the show, an airline pilot announces delays. This can symbolize life’s frustrating moments when we cannot get done what we wish (or must) in a timely, convenient manner.

Mostly, the cast members do not just sing to show off their fine voices. They demonstrate that they understand the emotions behind the songs, and believably convey them.

A pilot’s announcement regarding a flight about to depart for the Windy City precedes the famous number “All That Jazz,” from Chicago. The performers sing and dance to the song with the requisite confidence, stylishness, and seduction. Expect Bob Fosse’s signature dance style, which includes rhythmic finger snaps and performers singing and dancing sporting hats and canes.

After “All That Jazz,” a rude server at the airport prompts two women to sing the number, “Class.” Certainly, it is a humorous and timely number…especially today, when people seem to have forgotten how to act polite and classy. The women then ignore a man who then sings “Mr. Cellophane” with body movement designed perhaps to attract attention.

Moments that grab our own attention include the title song in Cabaret. This production’s rendition is not the fast-paced, up-tempo number you probably remember from the musical. This cast sings it slower, with constant finger snaps. If anything, it is enticing.

Another number you will experience differently is “New York, New York,” which the cast sings in different languages. Certainly, this befits the Big Apple, a melting pot if there ever was one. The song comes after an announcement that all flights to New York are, once again, on schedule.

Actually, New York City is the place to be in May if you are a fan of Kander and Ebb. At 8 p.m. on Monday, May 19 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company will present a one-night-only benefit concert to celebrate Kander’s 98th birthday. Renowned performer Alan Cumming, one of several performers to star as the emcee in Cabaret, will, fittingly, emcee this event. The event is titled Ring them Bells: A Birthday Celebration for John Kander.

It is celebration time in Pompano Beach as well. There, Pompano Players’ production of The World Goes ‘Round is a stylish and suitable tribute to Kander and his late writing partner.

The World Goes ‘Round through May 4 from the Pompano Players at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd. Tickets $45 and up. Go to https://pompanobeachculturalcenter.csstix.com/event-details.php?e=624.