On sporadic Sundays an audience gathers in the cosy Geary Theater in Midtown for an evening of songs performed by some of Sacramento’s best actor/singers at a cabaret event known as Graham-A-Rama, named after its’ founder and musical director Graham Sobelman.

In June Graham-A-Rama did something different. They devoted a weekend to three performances of William Finn’s one act musical play “In Trousers” in concert. “In Trousers” which Finn wrote the book, lyrics and music is the first of what became trilogy of three one act plays. Finn joined with James Lapine to create two more one act plays “March of the Falsettos” and “Falsettoland.” The second two shows were combined to create a two act Broadway musical “Falsettos.” "Falsettos" was nominated for four Tony Awards and won best book for a musical and best original score for the writers. Finn is now best known  for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

William Finn (Image by: trialx.com)

Through 30 songs, “In Trousers” tells the story of Marvin from childhood, through high school, marriage, coming to terms with his sexuality,  and divorce. We see all this from the points of view of Marvin, Miss Goldberg (one of Marvin’s teachers), the sweetheart and the wife.

As a concert,  only the songs of the play are performed, with out using full set design and with minimal props. The singers hold their songbooks or place them on music stands.  Yet even with the minimal staging, there isn't a loss of dramatic impact. The audience is transported into the life of Marvin. Finn’s words and music are part of what makes this show so dramatic.  Speaking with director Jerry Lee, who also sings the role of Marvin, he stated that: “In my opinion William Finn may be the best living American composer.”

Jessica Crouch, Graham Sobelman (back ground), Jerry Lee, Maggie Hollenbeck (Image by: Chris Baad)

\The other reason that this production has the dramatic punch that it does is the skill of the performers  “In Trousers” features four of the best musical theater performers around in Sacramento or really anywhere.  In addition, music director Graham Sobelman’s accompaniment is powerful dramatic, and flawless

Danielle Hansen is The Sweetheart. Hansen has appeared with numerous community musical theater companies and is a regular at Runaway Stage Production where she last played Little Sally in “Urine Town.” Dressed in as a cheerleader here, she is the quintessential high school girl. She does a great job on “My High School Sweetheart.”

Daniell Hanse as The Sweeheart and Jerry Lee as Marvin (Image by: Chris Baad)

Miss Goldberg, the teacher  Marvin lusts after, always wearing sunglasses, is played by Jessica Crouch. Crouch has just finished touringwith the national tour of “All Shook Up.” Her torch-song rendition of “Set Those Sails” had the audience cheering.

Jessica Crouch as Miss Goldberg (Image by: Chris Baad)

Maggie Hollinbeck plays The Wife. Hollenbeck is well known on numerous Sacramento stages for her wonderful performances and beautiful voice. She is perfect as The Wife who finds herself unable to understand who her husband is and what is happening to her marriage. The audience witnesses her character dramatic trajecory falling apart on “I’m Breaking Down.” The audience cheered Hollinbeck's performance of the song.

Maggie Hollenbeck as The Wife and Jerry Lee as Marvin (Image by: Chris Baad)

In regard to Marvin, the production notes state: “You are about to witness a series of flashbacks, some of which are true. Some of which are probably not so true. But all of them, in their quirky, Finn-esque way, shape Marvin into the flawed protagonist we both loathe and adore.

Jerry Lee is tremendous as the flawed Marvin. Marvin must both answer to the women and hold his ground in who he is fundamentally.

The Women have Jerry Lee as Marvin on his knees (Image by: Chris Baad)

Roseville native, Lee, who returned to Sacrament in 2010 after completing his studies at the prestigious Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts plays Marvin. He quickly began appearing on Sacramento stages most visibly at New Helvetia Theater notebly as Vernon Gershin “They’re Playing Our Song” and at Sacramento Theatre Company as Billy in their acclaimed production “Musical
of Musical: The Musical.”  Lee has a beautiful voice and great musical skill. He also has the dramatic chops to embody Marvin’s moods from giddy and silly to confused and conflicted to clear and steady. As the director of the show he also has the actors communicate much of the emotion and relationship through his staging.

The fine singing performances are backed by Graham-A-Rama founder/music director/producer Graham Sobelman. Along with being a sought-after accompanist, Sobelman has been the music director at New Helvetia Theatre, UC Davis, Capital Stage, Sacramento Theatre Company,  and Music Circus Junior Company. The scheduled August 28th Graham-A-Rama Cabaret show will be his 86th production of the cabaret series!  Sobelman’s performance of the score reflects his feelings for one of his favorite composers.

Graham Sobelman center and his performers (Image by: Chris Baad)

The great news for Sacramento music and theatre lovers is that this production of “In Trousers” is being reprised. The production is moving from the restricted seating of the Geary Theater to California Musical Theatre’s modern Cosmopolitan Cabaret. Although the Cabaret is about four times the size of the Geary a great deal of work went into the design of room to have very good acoustics. The same wonderful cast will be performing the show.

Sacramento audiences are lucky to have another opportunity to experience the music and drama of a rarely produced but excellent piece of American musical theater by one of its’ great composers. All of this is lovingly rendered by a talented cast that perform so well together.

Image by: Chris Baad

Graham-A-Rama presents William Finn’s “In Trousers”
Cosmopolitan Cabaret August 15th and August 22, 2011 7:00 pm
$18 advance $23 at door   Tickets Wells Fargo Pavilion Ticket Office (916) 557-1999