Picture Incomplete: on the road to Broadway
Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
Which came first – the original CD cast recording of a one man musical – PICTURE INCOMPLETE starring Trent Armand Kendall (book) or a live production of the show itself? Well, Upstairs at The Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) we recently got a bit of both. A preview of nine songs and a CD – which will be released next month by LML Music.
Mr. Kendall is presently on tour with The Color Purple, now playing Philadelphia and many of his fellow cast members were there to support him. He is personable and endowed with a powerful and sensitive singing voice. And yes, he is quite funny. Especially as Mavis, whose son has a talent for fashion and a flair for designing her showy hats. We also get to meet a homeless man – Clarence “The Other Way” a moving song about how we judge people from their looks and if we don’t like what we see – well, we look the other way. And Dr. Feelgood. And Righteous Reverend. You get the picture.
It is the Storyteller’s fiftieth birthday and it’s time for him to take stock, clean out his closet on West 104th Street and try and look back – “can’t move forward till you look back” to see why his life is still incomplete. It’s an interesting concept, not as yet fully realized. It’s a little bit of Stew in Passing Strange. It’s a little bit of Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry parading around as feisty grand-mamas and a whole lot of Trent Armand Kendall – who is certainly up to the job at hand.
The songs are by the gifted Michael Polese – philosophical, soul searching, foot stomping and questioning. Most impressive is the title song “Picture Incomplete.” But, “Walk-In Closet” - “I Looked it Up” and “Blind” are equally as good. I have to add that the musical director Adam Klipple, who played keyboard and organ fantastically, is also responsible for the incredible arrangements.
So will it make it to Broadway? It’s off to a good start. Next stop – Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in the fall and The University of Missouri-Columbia next spring. Trent had us all thinking positive about a legit New York opening.
As we all search for completeness in our lives, perhaps Storyteller is right is saying that it is better to remain incomplete – “that way we will always be learning and growing.” PICTURE INCOMPLETE is an ode to the joy of discovery.
www.pictureincomplete.com
06-26-08
Screen Name (or blank if anonymous)
Real Name (never published)
Email (never published)
Website(optional)
TalkBack: What do you think?
Enter Code Shown below:
Comments:
|