By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO –When I walked into the theatre, I greeted the House Manager with a kiss and she said, “I hope you brought your dancing shoes.” I did and I’m glad. She was right.
“Our music is part of America’s DNA.”
The number 33 1/3 refers to the speed of long play vinyl records and the “House of Dreams” was Gold Star Records. Recording studios are where the real work of the music biz happens. Cramped, drab and utilitarian, every song takes many takes to get it right. With long hours and high pressure, tempers flare into discord and drama. But this LA recording studio took in nobodies with potential and turned them into legends like The Beach Boys, Ritchie Valens, the Ramones and Sonny & Cher.
Gold Star Records was the brainchild of Dave Goldstein and Stan Rosenthal. But during the Red Scare, Hoover and McCarthy associated all Jews with Communism, even the wealthy capitalists. So they changed their names to Gold and Ross and came up with Gold Star. Gold’s nickname was “Einstein” as he was the sound engineer who built soundboards from scratch and his echo chamber could make their little studio sound like Carnegie Hall. And as to being Reds, the musicians’ union didn’t look kindly upon such long hours. But greasy palms turn blind eyes.
Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper as Stan Ross walks us through the story of Gold Star as they are making a documentary. He is by turns funny, charming, impulsive, and infuriating. A true visionary, his vision is often greater than their resources, but they somehow manage to pull it off. Aviva Pressman plays Vera, his devoted wife. Early on, the stars in their eyes are for each other singing It had to be you. But she soon realizes that Gold Star is the true love of his life and she comes after.
The whole cast has great energy. The professional cast is joined by performers from the SCPA (School for Creative and Performing Arts) in toe-tapping numbers like Da Doo Ron Ron and Rockin’ Robin and high-octane show-stoppers like Ike and Tina Turner’s River Deep Mountain High. Yet you don’t feel like you’re listening to the oldies when filled with the bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked exuberance of youth.
One cast member who stood out to me was Sky Frank who filled the space with a fun, playful energy rocking out like a young Elvis. A favorite number was a mash-up of Summertime Blues and La Bamba, bringing together two songs in two languages across a cultural divide. This is why musicians make lousy racists. Our natural inclination is to listen to each other and come together in harmony.
33 1/3 House of Dreams by the San Diego Rep is playing at the Lyceum Theatre through Aug 25. Sunday’s matinee included a special treat, a post-show set in the lobby by Gold Star recording artist Chris Montez. And that’s when those dancing shoes came in handy.
*
Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com. For Mimi Pollack’s review of 33 1/3 House of Dreams, please click here