[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This NoHo Arts theatre interview with librettist and co-lyricist Alan Edmunds gives a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Perfect World, the new mystery musical inspired by the true-life disappearance of writer Barbara Follett. The show runs November 1–9 at the historic El Portal Theatre.
Producing a new musical is utterly terrifying. So, the timing of Perfect World with this spooky time of year is, well, perfect! The El Portal is a gorgeous venue and full of history, built in the 1920s which is exactly the time this story is set. Too many coincidences make fool of fate, as they say, and I for one am insanely curious about the still unsolved mystery of a brilliant writer who vanished before she made her literary mark on the world.
We had a few questions for the creatives who brought this incredible story of Barbara Follett, a woman well before her time, to life and what drove them to bring her to the stage!
Librettist and co-lyricist Alan Edmunds was able to help us get to know Barbara Follett and help us frame her story in the new musical Perfect World.
Tell us a bit about the story told in Perfect World.
AE: Perfect World is a new, mystery musical set in the ‘20s & ‘30s that tells the true-life story of Barbara Follett, a precocious child writer who had an extraordinary love of writing. From the age of four, she wrote prolifically on a typewriter, mostly about the fictional Farksolia, her own utopia complete with its own language – her Perfect World where happiness reigns and people live in harmony with nature.
Wanting nothing more than for people to read her books, Knopf published two full-length acclaimed novels by Follett by age 14 – but life and love conspired against her as she struggled to continue to write, be published, and find an audience. At age 25, she succumbed to life’s many pressures and simply disappeared – leaving her brilliance unfulfilled.
Two compelling stories are told concurrently – the events of Follett’s life leading to her mysterious disappearance, and the USA-wide police hunt to find her. The story is driven by three strong women who never gave up – Young Barbara, Barbara, and her mother Helen – and by Captain Stahl, the lead investigator into Barbara’s disappearance.
Who are the other characters in the story?
AE: Barbara’s story includes a supportive father, an editor at Knopf, her rise to fame and critical acclaim, the life-long support of an imaginary friend who sustained her, a shipboard romance ended by manipulation, a husband felled by the depression, the duplicitous childhood acquaintance who abandons her, and the earnest and heartfelt investigators, all abetted by Barbara’s narcissistic mother – who in the second story is desperate to find the daughter that gave the only meaning to her life.
Tell us about your history with Barbara Follett’s story.
AE: I learned about Barbara from a New Orleans newspaper article by Paul Collins. I subsequently conducted extensive research at the Columbia University archives where all of Barbara’s materials are housed.
This is such a compelling story! What about it makes it important to you?
AE: Barbara’s writing abilities at such a young age were astounding. In my entire academic career researching precocious writers, I never encountered anything like it, so I wanted to celebrate her talent. Barbara’s conceptions of how people should care about nature are prescient given today’s concerns about climate and moral culture. As the audience watches Barbara’s transformation from resilient, hopeful idealist to skeptical downtrodden adult, her resolve is often tested. But, it is her deep love for others that ultimately betrays her. Her final redemption is that she touched and moved those closest to her.
When did you first think that Barbara’s story would make for a good musical? And why?
AE: I’m a bit of a musical theatre nerd having acted in and directed many shows. I immediately saw her strength of character and ability to overcome the major setbacks as the hero’s journey.
Tell us a bit about the music and the songs with composer Richard Winzeler.
AE: Richard is a wonderful composer – and the melodies he created for Perfect World capture the verve of classic golden age musicals. Think about scores for shows like Annie, Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, Guys and Dolls, and Hello, Dolly! – they contain a musical language that uses tuneful songs to highlight the emotions in the story.
How long has this project taken to this point and what have been some of the struggles and the triumphs?
AE: I wrote the first draft (book and lyrics) in 2010 and hosted my first table read in 2011. I revised the script and conducted more table reads, but 2014 began a three-year endeavor to find the right composer. A major step forward happened when I found Richard in 2017 and it’s been special that we share the same vision and passion for the project. Covid set us back nearly three years. After that, our biggest hurdle for more than two years was securing a theatre. Our biggest triumph will be finally putting on a full production at El Portal.
What are your thoughts about the El Portal Theatre and how has it become a perfect place to stage this story?
AE: This is an intimate show like Kimberly Akimbo and Annie thus, Perfect World is better suited to a smaller venue where the audience can be upfront with the actors.
What is it like to work with Kay Cole, Darryl Archibald and Hector Guerrero?
AE: It takes a village to raise a musical and Kay, Darryl and Hector have been tremendous. They are great collaborators. It inspires Richard and I to see their talents transforming our dream into a reality and discovering perspectives we may never have imagined.
Tell us about finding the cast and tell us something about the two who play Barbara and some of the other leads?
AE: I understand there were several hundred audition submissions. Our casting Director sent the creative team about 165 to whittle down for live auditions. From that, we chose an amazing cast of 13. Our two Barbaras are delightful and they have fully embraced their roles. The same is true for the actors playing Helen, Wilson and Captain Stahl, and the rest of the cast is doing a marvelous job of supporting the entire enterprise.
Do you have any advice for anyone contemplating creating a new piece of theatre?
AE: Whether it’s a play or musical, creators need to find the through line of their story and never deviate from it – unless something is totally off. That fundamental tenet has rescued me from many hiccups with the script. In a musical, lyrics/songs must continue and advance the story. When the spoken word reaches high emotion, characters must sing, and when sung lyrics drive even higher emotions, characters must dance.
Thank you Alan for your insight!
Perfect world premieres at the wonderful El Portal Theatre. NoHo is so lucky to have this beautiful and infamous theatre in our arts district!
This is a short run, so don’t dawdle and get your tickets asap!
Tickets:
https://elportaltheatre.com/perfectworld.html
When:
November 1-9
Saturday, November 1 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, November 2 at 1pm
Press Performance Sunday, November 2 at 6:30pm
Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 6 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 7 at 7:30pm
Saturday, November 8 at 2pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, November 9 at 1pm
Where:
El Portal Theatre
5269 Lankershim Blvd, NoHo Arts District, CAQ 91601
****To see what shows are playing, check out our theatre guide>>