By Dale King
Playwright Neil Simon takes a well-aimed shot at musical comedy in They’re Playing Our Song, a sharp and witty production being staged through Sunday at the Delray Beach Playhouse.
Actually, Simon wrote the book, then turned it over to songwriter Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager to provide words and tunes for a stage production. As it turns out, Hamlisch and Bayer Sager — probably not to their surprise — were the subjects of the book.
The Delray Playhouse version of the Simon-Hamlisch-Bayer Sager combo, directed by Randolph DelLago, is particularly entertaining. The show doesn’t plod, but rather, moves ahead at the speed of laughter. Songs add an interesting twist, and the presence of a live band makes the show more delightful.
And there’s another twist, too. The actors playing the smart-tongued composer and funky, off-the-wall lyricist are actually man and wife. Jim Tyminski portrays Vernon Gersch, a neurosis-laden music writer looking for someone to provide him with good words to accompany his notes. Diane Tyminski plays Sonia Walsk, an offbeat lyric writer whose annoying habits — arriving late for any appointment, wearing second hand store-type clothing and constantly bringing up the woes of her ex-boyfriend, Leon — begin to wear on old Vern. The pair undergoes a series of trials and tribulations on the road to true love — a road that is strewn with potholes.
The Broadway production starring comedian Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz (in her Broadway debut) opened in February 1979 at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1,082 performances. Actors Victor Garber and Ellen Greene took it on the road for the first U.S. national tour later that year.
They’re Playing Our Song is essentially a two-character show. Vernon and Sonia are the sole characters on stage, but each has a three-person Greek chorus. They show up at various points, representing the “voice” of their assigned players. They also show up between scenes to rearrange the stage furnishings in delightfully choreographed ways.
The first meeting between Vernon and Sonia in his Manhattan apartment is a nail-biting bit of high anxiety. He is focused, but aloof, and she is awed by his accomplishments. Sonia picks up an Academy Award from a table. “It’s very light,” she says. And he remarks: “They’re chocolate inside.”
That pretty much launches a wall-to-wall quipfest.
The banter is excellent, a bit droll, but well-written, typical of something drawn from a Simon production. The show is well-acted. It’s obvious that the Tyminskis have spent a lot of time on the stage side of the footlights.
For a musical, They’re Playing Our Song is actually light on melodies — only nine songs, not counting reprises. The title piece shows up in both acts. It’s a nice, bouncy number that has name recognition in the real world. It also gives each actor a chance to ballyhoo one of their hit tunes.
“Workin’ it Out” is Vernon’s dip into the disco pool using Sonia’s lyrics for flotation. She doesn’t like it very much, since it isn’t really her style. But it’s a fun song, much like a Donna Summer track.
“If He Really Knew Me” is another thought-provoker needed to move the potential relationship along, but is not a memorable tune. “Right,” sung by both actors along with their choruses, is a stronger effort, though it crashes into the Act I finale, “Just for Tonight,” which offers Sonia an opportunity to break up with Leon.
Act II takes the audience to an apparently pleasing finale for all involved, though it treads heavily on lamentations about the rigors of living and working together. The second stanza makes it way to the final curtain on the wings of three tunes, “When You’re in My Arms,” “I Still Believe in Love” and “Fill in the Words” — all solid tunes. The Tyminskis seem to get a second wind — and put lots of energy into their songs — during Act II.
Their performance in They’re Playing Our Song” is the first Delray Beach Playhouse appearance for the Tyminskis, who have been in many South Florida venues, including the Broward Stage Door Theater. Their abilities are evident and their acting and singing talents are above par.
Earning laughter and applause for their between-scene furniture moving skits are Greek chorus members Randy Threewits, Calvin Bankert, Eric Camacho, Melanie Juli, Leslie Highfield-Carter and Sara Crane. Krystyna Barron handled the choreography.
Providing music for the show are pianist and conductor Toni Stamos, drummer David Kroll, second keyboardist James K. Poch and Steve Jernigan on bass.
They’re Playing Our Song concludes with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday at the Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St. (Lake Shore Drive), Delray Beach. For tickets, call 561-272-1281, extension 4.