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Cast saves 'Candide'

By Matt Windman

3:36 PM EDT, April 10, 2008

Lauren Worsham, Judith Blazer and Daniel Reichard in New York City Opera's 'Candide.' (handout)

1950s musical theater is alive and well and living in Manhattan. Right now, you can see "Gypsy" on Broadway, "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center, "Take Me Along" at the Irish Repertory Theatre, and now "Candide" at New York City Opera. And while NYCO's "Candide," first staged in 1982, is a problematic production, an exceptionally strong cast is bringing it to life like never before.

Only in "the best of all possible places, in the best of all possible worlds" will "Candide" be perfect. It's like a Catch 22. To bring life to Leonard Bernstein's score, which includes gems like "Make Our Garden Grow," "Glitter and Be Gay," and its spellbinding overture, you need a sweeping orchestra. But to make the story -- which follows the characters through the Spanish Inquisition, a war, an earthquake, and other catastrophes -- dramatically effective, you need a small, intimate space.

Though Hal Prince staged a very effective production in 1973, his NYCO production went for the opposite approach and remains a misconceived mess. So overblown that the ensemble sits onstage to watch the show along with the audience. It is also impossible to make a book musical work in the acoustically challenged New York State Theater, where spoken dialogue echoes for days.

But smart casting saves the day. Daniel Reichard, who played Bob Gaudio in "Jersey Boys", convincingly portrays Candide's fragility, youth and heart. Playing opposite him is Richard Kind, who brings broad comic appeal to the narrator, Voltaire, and Lauren Worsham, who plays Cunegonde as a surprisingly street-smart gal in addition to excelling vocally.

"Candide" marks your last chance to see NYCO before it goes avant-garde under artistic director Gerard Mortier. Perhaps Mortier will bring the reconceived "Candide" that just premiered in Paris, where it is staged as a TV show and criticizes contemporary political leaders, to NYCO soon.

New York State Theater, 63rd St and Columbus, 212-721-6500, $16-130. Tues-Wed 7:30pm, Thurs-Fri 8pm, Sat 1:30 & 8pm, Sun 1:30pm. Thru April 20.