Slightly Rough ‘Tapestry’ Gets Larger Venue

Long Beach’s International City Theatre, normally a 99-seat company, has revived last summer’s revue of Carole King songs, “Tapestry,” for six performances in the 862-seat Center Theater at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

It’s a noble effort. The Center Theater is one of the area’s best yet least-occupied theaters. And because International City Theatre’s home space is relatively spacious and flexible by 99-seat standards, the company often uses ambitiously and meticulously designed sets that look as if they could fill a larger theater’s stage.

That’s certainly the case with the clever platform that Lisa Hashimoto designed for last summer’s show, now transferred to the Center Theater. At the top is a six-piece band. But most of the structure is evocative of a grand piano, with a set of wide, curved, sweeping steps on one side that serve as the piano’s “keys” and look like something that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers should have danced on.

Of course Astaire and Rogers wouldn’t have danced to Carole King music, nor would they have worn the costumes Sherry Linnell devised for “Tapestry.” For the first 12 songs, the women wear velvety pink tunics over black stretch pants, and the men are in blue denim, sequined vests. The look is so chintzy that one imagines some parodic intent, but it isn’t clear.

That first set of songs is generally oversold by the cast, responding to caryn morse’s direction and Sheree King’s choreography. It’s as if they’re doing an industrial show for one of the sales conventions that often are held in the adjacent hall. This is most apparent in Joe Giuffre’s gymnastic rendition of “I Feel the Earth Move,” which looks like a Vegas lounge act parody. Dwayne Stephenson and John Michael Morgan have better luck with “Growing Away From Me” and “Where Does Love Go?,” respectively.

For the second set, the cast dons colorful matching mod outfits for a medley of King’s songs for ‘60s girl groups. Here the tongue is more securely in cheek, the physical exertion makes more sense, and lighting designer Tom Ruzika has fun with pastels.

After intermission the cast appears in ‘70s-inspired clothes more reminiscent of the popular conception of Carole King. The program continues rather haphazardly, though three songs are grouped as a “parenting” trilogy. The lyrics by King and Gerry Goffin seldom tell a story with theatrical depth, so the evening feels a bit thin and light-headed.

But the over-miked singers do create some glistening harmonies. The three women are Karen Olson Pierce, DeBorah Sharpe and Melissa Berman, with Pierce doing the best job of reining in the salesmanship. Darryl Archibald capably leads the band.

The program contains bios of everyone except King, Goffin and the team who conceived and created the show for off-Broadway: Rowan Joseph, John Kroner and Jeffrey Martin.

* “Tapestry,” Center Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. (behind the Terrace Theater), Long Beach. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Ends Sunday. $16-$22 ($2 discount if you show a record or CD of “Tapestry” or “Tapestry Revisited”). (310) 436-3661. Running time: 2 hours.