Right outside the City of Brotherly Love, “City of Angels” offered devilishly good entertainment that tackled both film noir and comedy. The superb cast and crew at Eastern Regional High School did a bang-up job with this murderous musical.
Bringing a taste of Hollywood to Broadway, City of Angels snagged the 1990 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Book, and Score. In this multifaceted show, protagonist Stine busily adapts his novel about private detective Stone for the big screen, while Stone pursues the case of a wealthy woman’s missing stepdaughter. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction, Stine’s everyday companions mirror their celluloid alter egos, and his troubled life unravels as his script simultaneously unfolds.
Eastern Regional put on a riveting production, bolstered by the cast’s striking vocals in challenging, jazzy numbers. The company stunningly meshed the black-and-white realm of film with the colorful world of the 1940s, and adding to the inventive nature of the show, actors skillfully portrayed dual parts as "real" and "reel" characters.
Anchoring the musical as Stone, Jonathan Harris mastered the archetypically slick detective with velvety vocals and convincing acting. Opposite Stone as Stine, strong belter Dante Brattelli struck a chord with his impressive range in songs such as “Funny.” Together, the two wowed in their duet “You’re Nothing Without Me.” In the roles of producer Irving and insufferable movie maker Buddy, Jeremy Gubman flaunted his delightful comic chops.
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