There's always a risk when adapting literary personalities to the musical stage: ribald wit may melt into sentimental cheese. The Talk of the Town, about the legendary Round Table, the coterie of New York writers who lunched regularly at the Algonquin in the 1920's, manages to avoid the gooey gruyère—most of the time. Ginny Redington and Tom Dawes collaborated on the book, music and lyrics covering the careers, friendships and repartee of Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, Marc Connelly, Robert Sherwood, Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman.
Most of the repartee is directly quoted from the Algonquin writers, wickedly funny with impeccable pacing and delivery under the direction of Dan Wackerman. Anyone who knows anything about the Round Table will be impressed with the cast; they fit their roles in appearance as well as character. Only Adam J. MacDonald (as Robert Sherwood) falls short; he is convincing as a musical theater performer posing as a playwright.
Kristin Maloney does a fine job as Dorothy Parker, but she only scratches the surface of Mrs. Parker's essential despair. This may be more a problem with the script than her acting ability. Ferber was only an occasional member of the Vicious Circle and she and Dorothy did not like each other, yet this is an interesting truth that is not explored. There is also no mention of Parker's first husband beyond the line, “I married so I could change my name.”
But this is a musical comedy so how deep can you go? As for an authentic artistic portrayal of the Round Table, I prefer the 1994 film Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, where the actors are smoking and drinking in lieu of bursting into song. The Talk of the Town is fine entertainment, as long as you remember Woollcott's words, “Nobody but the critic can make [the play] art.”
Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, 59 W. 44 St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-840-6800; $60 + $20 min.
