Joyful Noise

For two weeks only, Lamb's Players restages Tim Slover's "historical backstage drama," brought back by popular demand. Although scenes need compression, and the dramaturgy's formulaic, the play's dovetailing stories - of a "fallen" mezzo-soprano and the politics behind Handel's composing ("compiling," actually) of the Messiah in 1741 - allow the company to sport Jeanne Reith's remarkable period costumes and fill in some of the script's blanks with lively theatricality. Co-directors Robert and Deborah Gilmour Smyth do fine turns as Handel (who, beneath Germanic gruffness, has a deep inner certainty) and Mrs. Pendarves, a florid arts patron. Colleen Kollar Smith (a touching Susannah Cibber), Teressa Byrne (Kitty: a feisty diva with a rocket soprano voice), Jim Chovick (a treat as humble King George II) make valuable contributions. Talented Jason Heil does what he can with Bishop Henry Egerton, the play's wordy villain. David Thayer, who used to work lighting wonders at Lamb's old National City space, devised a minimalist set with marbled, neoclassic columns. Special credit to co-sound designers Gilmour Smyth and Patrick Duffy.


Worth a try.
  • When: Ongoing until Sunday, January 24, 2010
    • Sundays 2pm
    • Wednesdays 7:30pm
    • Thursdays 7:30pm & 7:30pm
    • Fridays 8pm
    • Saturdays 4pm & 8pm
  • Where: Lamb's Players Theatre

    1142 Orange Avenue, Coronado, 92118
    Get directions

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