Monte Cristo – Musicalization of the Dumas Classic
“Dangerous Times” is a rousing opening, vocally well arranged and reminiscent of Les Miserables. The chorus is effectively used.
Baron Danglars (James Judy) wants Edmund Dantès (Trent Saunders) imprisoned so that he can take over his ship. Fernand Mondego (Daniel Yearwood) is hopeful the young man’s love, Mercédès (Lauren Worsham), will instead marry him if her fiancé disappears. Government official Villefort (Philip Hernandez) needs Dantès put away to protect his political activist brother Noirtier (Eliseo Roman) in a tangent plot concerning Napoleon. Moments of conscience are jettisoned. If I do this “One Small Thing,” all sing. Good song.
Edmund Dantès. (Trent Saunders); Mercédès (Lauren Worsham)
Dantès’ friend, Sancho-Panza-like tavern-owner Calderousse (Danny Rutigliano), reports to Villefort that he’s overheard Danglers and Fernand plotting. The hero is nonetheless incarcerated just before his wedding. Mercédès has no idea what’s happened to him. Three months later, she reluctantly marries Fernand. There’s a reason. Danglars becomes a banker, Fernand, a count. He and Mercédès raise son, Albert (Pablo Torres). Both conspirators grow rich. Albert is affianced to Danglers’ vapid daughter Eugenie (Grace Marie Rusnica).
Fernand Mondego (Daniel Yearwood); Mercédès (Lauren Worsham)
Dantès spends 18 years imprisoned with Abbé Faria (Danny Rutigliano), who has dug a tunnel between their two cells thinking he’s heading towards escape. While the hero is simple (played ridiculous= unsympathetic), the Abbé is highly educated. He teaches his cellmate chess, languages, science, art and swordplay. Digging continues. Before he dies, inadvertently providing alternate escape, the old man directs Dantès to buried treasure.
Scenes and songs in the prison are some of the best written, though we could do without the implicit, “Is Anyone There?” Additionally, there’s no reason to give Caderousse’s wife Carconte (Anne L. Nathan) a song or to reprise and extend so many. The piece is overstuffed. In many cases, a brief bit of dialogue would carry us along better.
L to R: Noirtier (Eliseo Roman), Fernand (Daniel Yearwood), Albert (Pablo Torres), Danglars (James Judy), Villefort (Philip Hernandez)
“A Great and Noble Man” opens Act II setting us up properly. Dantès collects the fortune, and returns home intending to reclaim Mercédès who surely waited for him. Plans for revenge are a close second. He saves Albert from ruffians and presents himself as The Count of Monte Cristo – the island from which funds were secured. Fernand, now known as the Count de Morcerf, doesn’t recognize him, Mercédès does, but takes the high road. One by one, Dantès adroitly exacts retribution from his adversaries. To their credit, book writer and lyricist do not soften results.
As if this wasn’t sufficiently complicated, Haydée (Alex Humphreys) a young woman who has lived with Dantès ever since he rescued her from insurrection, is the daughter of a pasha Fernand betrayed. Her protector instructs the girl to tell the story in front of all involved, thus threatening Mercédès’ husband with exposure. AND Albert falls for her. The character might be referred to only, somewhat simplifying the plot and eschewing several songs.
Edmund Dantès. (Trent Saunders), Carconte (Anne L. Nathan), Caderousse (Danny Rutigliano)
Re: “This Stupid Heart of Mine”/”That Stupid Man of Mine,” surely one could find a better adjective than one used for romcoms. “How Did I Get So Far Away” and “What If There’s More Than This?” are too unspecific to land well. Let’s talk about mixing updates and/or trying to be politically correct with a period piece. That Dantès takes both Calderousse and his wife with him adds an unnecessary character – but another woman! We later see she and her husband vacationing on the beach (in white sunglasses) with their newfound funds. What?
Albert (Pablo Torres), Eugenie (Grace Marie Rusnica)
Eugenie decides to go off on her own when everything hits the fan, slips out of her skirts revealing jeans, and writes a note to Albert signing it Eugene, not Eugenie! One of Carconte’s songs ends with Fiddler-on-the-Roof-ish wordless singing to suddenly indicate Judaism?
The ambitious piece needs pruning before another production. There’s much that works, but equally as much that doesn’t.
Director Peter Flynn moves a great many characters with fluidity and sense. Voices are all splendid, especially those of Lauren Worsham and Grace Marie Rusnica. Dantès (Trent Saunders) could seem less of a lightweight early on. Fernand (Daniel Yearwood) and Villefort (Philip Hernandez) are credibly sincere and fraught.
Danny Rutigliano (Calderousse and the Abbé) is worth the price of admission. The character actor sings well, offers a nifty ersatz Italian accent, displays terrific comic timing, and creates believability with every turn. A genuine pleasure.
Peter Bruckner’s background projections, a mixture of old prints and photos plus indication of passing years, works nicely. As always, David Hancock Turner’s music direction/piano is able and appealing.
While I understand Mufti is unset and undressed, every performer owns black and the disparity of clothing here distracts considerably.
Photos by Carol Rosegg
The York Theatre Company presents
Monte Cristo
Book & Lyrics by Peter Kellog
Music by Stephen Weiner
Based on The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and the play by Charles Fechter
Directed by Peter Flynn
Music Director- David Hancock Turner
Through September 29, 2024
The York Theatre- Theatre at St. Jean’s
150 East 76th Street
For those interested: There’s a 1934 classic Hollywood version starring Robert Donat as Edmond Dantès and a lavish 2024 French version (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) from director/screenwriters Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelliere.
NEXT: Inundated—Musical with book by Alice Scovell – October 4-13
They say “it only takes one,” but it’s tough to find him in New York City, even in the age of dating apps. Just ask Lucy, a singer-songwriter whose self-imposed mission is to meet every guy with a shred of potential. It seems she’ll have to slog through 999,999 guys to get to her one-in-a-million. At least she has material for her songs
