Pleasant Memories — Pasadena Playhouse's 'Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical'

For twenty years, Sleepless in Seattle has been synonymous with romantic comedy. The movie even squeaked into AFI's all-time top 10 list; though I'd wager the majority of people in an impromptu survey would say "Sleepless" first, when asked to name a rom-com. Just the mention of the title sends fans into sighing, pearl-clutching swoons. Under the pressure of such hype, and after nearly a decade in development limbo, original story author Jeff Arch, director Sheldon Epps, and the production team at Pasadena Playhouse have mounted a mostly entertaining, often funny musical version of the beloved modern classic.

The plot's simple. An endearing widower is thrust into the dating scene by his concerned, albeit precocious son via a call to a late night radio show. The widower's (next) soul mate happens to be listening and, against her better judgment, abandons her boring fiancé to join the fray of prospects for the now famous Mr. Sleepless. She pens a fateful letter and, after much ado, the leads meet in the last scene atop the Empire State, just like '57's An Affair to Remember, just like '39's Love Affair.

True, the original Sleepless is a piece of cinematic fluff; but it's lovable fluff, fueled by the inherent charm and admirable talent of America's most trusted man, Tom Hanks. His humanity and subtle portrayal of a wounded heart made the story memorable. This stage treatment, however, was doomed by the misguided choices of leading man Tim Martin Gleason. Devoid of compassion and any semblance of fatherhood, Gleason plays the first scene — consoling his son after mom's funeral — like a court-mandated volunteer hour with a troubled adolescent he just met. From there, his performance further devolves into an random mix of apathy, petulance, and constant shrieking which I thought was a bad Jerry Lewis impression, only to later realize it was an even worse Tom Hanks impression. You know how Hanks sometimes lets loose a hilarious, exasperated, voice-cracking shout? Imagine an unfunny version of that, on every joke and almost every line.

Despite all this, the rest of the cast does their best to prop up the story. As Annie, Chandra Lee Schwatrz nails every comedic moment with great deadpan sensibility. Attacking the role of the son Jonah, a talented-beyond-his-years Joe West holds his own among his Broadway-vet cast mates. In contrast to Gleason's Sam, the impressive Robert Mammana's stiff-necked, allergy prone Walter came off as the charmer among Annie's two choices. So much so, I half-hoped the producers had changed the story's ending, that Annie had gotten over her cinematic delusions of romance and stayed with Walter. Alas...

Prior to attending, I wondered how the set designer (John Iacovelli) was going to bring the observation deck on for the last scenes, only to discover the metal railings and staircases were going to be onstage the whole time. A dozen or so moving projector screens were used to achieve the (sometimes bewildering) cinematic effect of such varied locations as airports, NYC, and a Seattle houseboat.

I trust this piece will be performed in houses large and small nationwide in no time. The title alone will bring patrons by the droves. But for you diehard "Sleepless" fans in the LA area, I'd call ahead to see when understudy Adam Silver is playing Sam. He might make a better go of it.

Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical continues at the Pasadena Playhouse until June 23. Get your tickets here, or by calling (626) 356-7529.

* Photos by Jim Cox.