Theatre West Presents “THE FACE, Behind The Face, behind the face”
Running October 1 through October 29, Sunday’s at 7pm
There are far too few musicals playing in LA, so it was with great excitement that I attended the opening night of Anthony Gruppuso’s musical romp through the sometimes tortuous life of a hard-working musical actor.
The plot is thus; in an attempt to cure his depression and at the insistence of his wife, Anthony bravely seeks solace with a psychiatrist. As a way to explain his somewhat unusual life, he takes the doctor and his mesmerized audience on a little trip down musical memory lane.
Anthony’s career has taken him from New York to Chicago and Los Angles in search of that one transformative role. He ruminates on call back after call back after reading for producers and as he tells his tale he sings…and oh can he sing.
We get a taste of “Oliver,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Pagliacci” and even a little bit of “Hairspray.”
The honesty with which Antony shares his world is poignant and touching. His father’s doubt, his family’s concern and even his children’s love is all laid bare as he tries to find his way through his own tricky psychosis.
What all this amounts to is a wonderfully entertaining show, full of pathos and originality. Anthony, with the help of the brilliant Jon Dickson who accompanies him so skillfully on piano, manages to communicate perfectly the tremendous heartache of being a performer. With all that self-doubt, rejection and pain, it’s a wonder anyone survives with their mind intact. Thankfully, Anthony Grupusso has and to his credit, he seems to be far from giving up. Luckily for us!!
If you love musicals and heartfelt, biographical exposes about the toughest business in the world then get your tickets fast…. This terrific show won’t be long at the fantastic Theatre West and I highly recommend that you see Anthony’s “THE FACE, Behind The Face, behind the face”
Running October 1 through October 29, Sunday’s at 7 pm
Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles
Written by and starring Anthony Gruppuso
Directed by Calvin Remsberg
Musical Direction by John Dickson
Produced by Dina Morrone and Benjamin Scuglia