If you’ve seen the movie, you know the moment: A rock star scaling a rooftop, spreading his arms like the world’s wooziest messiah and shouting: “I dig musicals!”
Or, not exactly that. The line in “Almost Famous” is actually “I dig music!,” and the guy who proclaims it — guitar god Russell Hammond, from a ‘70s band called Stillwater — wouldn’t know a musical if he personally tripped over Maria von Trapp. (Plus, he’s already tripping to begin with.)
But say this about the Old Globe’s beguiling new musical adaptation of hometown hero Cameron Crowe’s 2000 movie: Even Russell might dig it.
“Almost Famous” itself is not a show to do a lot of deep digging; even its (modestly) darker corners are often illuminated by gentle humor, and what’s at stake are mostly matters of love and acceptance rather than life and death.
Like the movie, whose Oscar-winning script Crowe based on his own experiences as a boy-wonder San Diego rock writer in the early ‘70s, the musical is likably loose-limbed, brimming with memorably off-kilter characters and with unalloyed joy in the transformative gift of a great song.
But “Almost Famous” — written by Crowe, directed by Britain’s Jeremy Herrin (a Tony Award nominee for the “Wolf Hall” plays) and boosted by an often inspired score from Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (“Next to Normal” and more) — has one quality in particular that can boost a musical above the rest: An unabashedly big heart.
That’s perhaps what shines through most in this story of a young journalist coming of age amid chaos and bliss, bruised egos and tarnished ideals on the rock ‘n’ roll road.
What makes it tick (and click) is an assortment of tuned-in performances by the show’s strong cast — in particular a remarkable turn by Casey Likes as William Miller, the 15-year-old writer and music fanatic who talks his way backstage at the San Diego Sports Arena and then on tour with Stillwater.
Likes is more or less living William’s dream in real life: He’s just out of high school and now has been thrust on the biggest stage of his career, but handles it with poise and charm, and captures a mix of innocence and zest for living that informs the whole show.
William is taken under the wing of Penny Lane (Solea Pfeiffer, an arresting presence and wondrously gifted singer), the legendary chief “Band Aid” — because they don’t call themselves “groupies” — who clues him in to the backstage life.
He also gloms onto Stillwater, led by Russell (Colin Donnell, bringing understated wit and impressive vocal chops) and lead singer Jeff Bebe (Drew Gehling, whose sinuous singing style and comically self-conscious rock-god poses light up a lot of scenes).
Penny lane’s fellow Band Aids — played by Katie Ladner, Storm Lever and Julia Cassandra — lend lots of personality and vocal power, and Emily Schultheis is a feisty ally as William’s sister, Anita.
Katie Ladner, Solea Pfeiffer, Casey Likes, Julia Cassandra and Storm Lever (from left) in the Old Globe’s “Almost Famous.”
(Neal Preston)
“Almost Famous” also benefits from two enjoyably epic buzzkills. One is William’s indomitable mom, Elaine, of whom her loving son says: “She’s what you’d have if Socrates and Kojak were combined.”
This college instructor and lovably bullheaded force of nature, played winningly by Anika Larsen, informs her students that “rock stars have kidnapped my son” (on Kitt’s excellent number “Elaine’s Lecture”). And while she’s torn over letting William grow up a little, she’s absolutely not giving up without a fight.
The other contrarian presence is Lester Bangs (a sharp-tongued, perfectly prickly Rob Colletti), the rock critic and Crowe’s real-life mentor who, in a great imaginative stroke, has become not just a pal to William but a kind of supernatural gadfly.
Lester loiters in the audience before the performance, quizzing people about the weird devices they’re holding (this is 1973, remember), before delivering the show’s first line: “It’s over!” Meaning, rock ‘n’ roll.
He then pops back in periodically — sometimes freezing the action, or materializing from on high — to warn William about making friends with rock stars, or to lament rock’s decline. (The Carpenters T-shirt he dons in the second half of the 140-minute, one-intermission show is one of costume designer David Zinn’s many sly touches.)
Fans of the movie will recognize a whole lot of the show, including the signature sing-along of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer,” rendered here with bittersweet bravura. Like the movie — filmed partly in San Diego — the musical also serves up plenty of local name-drops. (Even a reference to the Globe itself, where Crowe’s own mom dragged him to see Shakespeare).
But there are welcome new facets, too. Kitt’s excellent number “No Friends,” with its quietly haunting vibe and angular, jittery choreography by Lorin Latarro, gets at William’s inner conflicts in a way the film really didn’t. (The composer’s numbers “Lost in New York City” and “1973″ are the rare selections that sound a little out of place for the period or the musical.)
Classic rock courses through the show as well, including Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and a lovely ode to Joni Mitchell’s “River.” (Mitchell herself was at the Globe for Friday’s opening.)
The fact there are more than 30 numbers — with Crowe contributing some lyrics — makes for a busy show, but Derek McClane’s ingeniously quick-shifting sets and Herrin’s fluid direction keep things moving. Conductor-keyboardist Daniel Green’s 12-member orchestra lends ear-pleasing acoustic textures as well as amped-up rock, boosted by Peter Hylenski’s sound design; Natasha Katz’s lighting also focuses the action admirably.
And in a musical that feels so much about struggling to find a place in the world, Penny Lane’s words to William in the middle of “Tiny Dancer” make for a gently fitting benediction.
“I have to go home!” William says.
To which she replies: “You are home.”
When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. (Some exceptions; check with theater.) Through Oct. 27.
Where: Old Globe’s Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage, Balboa Park.
Tickets: $70 and up
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Online: theoldglobe.org