BY HOWARD KISSEL
Friday, January 17, 1997
JUNE MOON. By George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner. With Geoffrey Nauffts, Robert Joy, Cynthia Nixon, Becky Ann Baker, Albert Macklin and others. Set by Bill Clarke. Costumes by Jonathan Bixby. Directed by Mark Nelson. At the Ohio Theater, 66 Wooster St.
WHEN WE LEFT THE DRAMA Dept.'s sparkling production of George S. Kaufman and Ring Lardner's comedy, "June Moon," my companion remarked how much fun it was.
Naturally, I pointed out to her that in the Dark Ages 1929, that is, when the play was written fun was acceptable. Now, of course, we're beyond that.
If Mark Nelson had directed "June Moon" strictly with an eye to its dizzy, snappy comedy, I could not in good conscience have endorsed it. But because he has found in most cases the underlying sadness, I can recommend it wholeheartedly.
"June Moon" is set in the music business, which was clearly as loopy 70 years ago as it is today. Fred, an innocent young man from Schenectady, has come to New York to write lyrics.
He falls prey to a floozy, who really fleeces him when he becomes a success. Only because of a caring mentor is he saved from her clutches.
The plot is basic, but the comic writing is stellar, not so surprising given the skill of Kaufman and Lardner. Still, with less care it would be easy to lose the simple humanity of the story in the whirligig.
In our time, innocence is often equated with dumbness, which makes it hard to play, but the gifted Geoffrey Nauffts makes the naive lyricist enormously sympathetic, no small feat.
Equally impressive is Becky Ann Baker as the composer's edgy, wise-cracking wife. Baker gets the laughs, but she also manages to find an understandable frustration and humanity in the character. Though occasionally he projects discomfort, Robert Joy's haunted look works well for her long-suffering husband.
Cynthia Nixon plays the lyricist's pursuer as a standard vamp, not catching the desperation that drives her; nor does Stacy Highsmith convey the winsomeness of the girl Fred really loves.
Peter Jacobson is hilarious as a manic songwriter, Amy Hohn plays two small parts deliciously, and Albert Macklin is perfect as an urbane cynic.
Smashingly designed, lovingly performed, "June Moon" is a splendid gift from a simpler time.
