A Well-Rounded Musical

In a strange coincidence, three Broadway music revues have arrived on our shores in sequence, and, as it turns out, you have your choice to see any of them for one night on Thursday, December 7. The Cher Show winds up its two-day run at the Granada, Ensemble’s Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash continues at the New Vic, and Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC) launches The World Goes ‘Round at its Ventura theater. For fans of the traditional Broadway musical, there’s only one option: RTC’s World, which weaves together a collection of story songs drawn from the catalog of Kander & Ebb, the duo behind smash hits Chicago and Cabaret, Woman Of The Year and Kiss of the Spider Woman, and the movie New York, New York. 

The World Goes ‘Round not only features such classics as “Mr. Cellophane,” “Maybe This Time,” “Cabaret,” “New York, New York,” and the title song, but also a true thread tying them together, namely an up and down examination of the humor, joys, and poignancy of the human condition. 

“The title just sums it up,” said director Wren T. Brown, the founding producing artistic director of L.A.’s Ebony Repertory Theatre, who helmed Rubicon’s production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ in 2022.“The planet spins and the world goes ‘round. It takes you into the depth of what’s poignant about life; these meditations on marriage and relationships of all kinds. There’s an extraordinary range of fun and pathos, and a balance of power ballads and 11 o’clock numbers (pivotal songs at the end of a musical). It’s the best of the American musical in one show.” 

Each character also has something of their own arc within the revue, although it’s a subtle suggestion, Brown explained. 

“It sneaks upon you but it’s very creatively impactful,” he said. “By the end of the musical, you realize that they’ve each had some movement along the way.” 

Which is why the order and assignments of the songs between the five actors – five Broadway veterans are in RTC’s cast, including Ventura native Andrew Samonsky – stays the same even though Brown mixed things up by setting the production backstage at a theater. 

“That adds to their characters because we see them at their dressing tables and mirrors where they have their own elements that inspire them,” he said. “It’s a peek into the preparation of artists who then come on stage to deliver a performance that hopefully touches the audience and sends them away talking about an evening in the theater.”

Rubicon’s The World Goes ‘Round plays through December 23. Call (805) 667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org.