Thursday, November 14, 1996
MUSIC:
‘Midnight’ tells story of Southern town, pays tribute to
MercerBy Jasmine Pachnanda
Daily Bruin Contributor
Books frequently inspire movie renditions and sometimes even
vice versa. However, in this case, a book provided the inspiration
for a jazz concert.
Coming Sunday to the Veterans Wadsworth Theater, the jazz
concert "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" pays tribute to
legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer.
Based on John Berendt’s novel of the same name, the concert
combines dramatic readings from the book with the music and song of
Mercer.
The jazz concert is hosted by the author, whose book spent more
that two years on the New York Times best-seller list.
Berendt will read dramatic passages from the novel while various
singers give life to characters from the book through Mercer’s
music.
"It’s a terrific jazz concert and beautifully performed. The
readings inject the mood of the book into the concert," Berendt
says.
Starring Margaret Whiting, daughter of Hollywood composer
Richard Whiting, Julius LaRosa, Emma Kelley and Carrie Nye, the
concert began as director Jack Wrangler’s idea. After reading
Berendt’s book, where Mercer was mentioned several times, Wrangler
decided to incorporate the novel with the concert.
But, Berendt says, "You don’t have had to read the book to enjoy
the concert. The concert explains itself through the readings. Just
the music itself is enough to want to see the concert."
The concert started out as a small cabaret troupe performing in
the Russian Tea Room in New York. At that point, Berendt was asked
to host the concert but the success of the show led to the New York
Jazz Festival and has continued touring throughout the country,
becoming a full-fledged jazz concert.
"People seem to be really enjoying the performances, and I am,
too. This isn’t something I usually do," Berendt says.
The original novel tells the story of Savannah, Ga. and
encompasses the ambiance of a small Southern town. After living in
Savannah for two years, Berendt decided to base his novel on a true
incident in local history. Berendt goes on to recount the stories
of this small town, including a murder which took place in the
house of Mercer’s great grandfather.
"The concert reflects the atmosphere of Savannah. There are
references to winding roads and blue skies which refers to the
South. Also, there are a lot of connections to Mercer in the book.
We want you to be there," Berendt says.
Mercer, who grew up in Savannah, went on to publish over 1,000
songs, including the hits "Hooray for Hollywood" and "You Must Have
Been a Beautiful Baby." Mercer won four Academy Awards before his
death in 1976.
But his work lives on, this time with a new twist. "There is a
dramatic structure to the concert. You get a sense of the story
from the readings but the music of Mercer really steals the show,"
Berendt says.
MUSIC: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is presented by
the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts at the Veterans Wadsworth
Theater on Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $33, $30 and $9 for
students. For more information, call (310) 825-2101.