East West’s ‘World’ Takes a Familiar Spin

As the world goes ‘round, does Tim Dang’s East West Players production of the musical revue “The World Goes ‘Round” bring anything especially distinctive to the New York-style sensibility of the musical team of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb?

Well, in the “New York, New York” finale, the cast members sing the lyrics in various Asian languages and wave little flags from the corresponding countries before uniting for the familiar English lyrics, a slight variation on the original staging that emphasizes the Asian side of the Big Apple’s diversity.

And in “The Grass Is Always Greener,” a funny duet between a glamorous star and her homemaker friend who envy each other’s lives, the homemaker is impressed by the star’s friendship with Lea Salonga of “Miss Saigon” and “Flower Drum Song” fame--a personalized joke, for the star in this song is played by Jennifer Paz, who took over Salonga’s role in the L.A. productions of both of those shows.

Elsewhere, however, this “The World Goes ‘Round” isn’t very different from the other productions seen in Greater L.A. over the last decade--which is to say, the quality of any given moment depends on the quality of the source material

Thirty songs from 13 shows make up the evening, and Ebb’s lyrics in particular range from brilliant to cliched.

Certainly the bulk of the show is amply entertaining. Everyone sings well, and the look of the five singers is sufficiently varied. They execute Dang’s staging without a hitch, with the help of choreographer Reggie Lee and musical director Scott Nagatani.

Paz brings an understated elegance to the opening title number, and she and Kerry Carnahan are a hoot as the slightly sloshed women who tsk-tsk about the lack of “Class” in society and as the “Grass is Always Greener” duo. Carnahan changes moods dramatically in “How Lucky Can You Get?” and leads off the second act with a spirited “Ring Them Bells,” but she appears stranded by the staging of “Isn’t This Better.”

Michael K. Lee displays a dapper sense of style in “Sara Lee” and “Mr. Cellophane,” and his interpretation of “Sometimes a Day Goes By” blends beautifully with Paul Nakauchi’s rendition of “I Don’t Remember You.”

Nakauchi is stuck with a few of the songs that work least well outside their original context, such as “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” but thanks to his little strip-tease in “Arthur in the Afternoon,” he’s a living rebuttal of the complaint sometimes voiced by Asian American actors that they don’t get to play hunks. Jennifer Say Gan is the woman who relies on Arthur’s charms, and she pulls off the show’s most haunting song, “A Quiet Thing.”

The ensemble is funny on crutches in “Pain” and uses aerobics-style slide boards instead of skates in “The Rink,” which works well enough, considering the size of the stage.

The cast looks eerie in “Money,” thanks to Frank McKown’s lighting, and they glide through the jazzy five-part arrangement of “Cabaret” with ease.

Melissa Ficociello’s set suggests a carousel without undue extravagance, but use of a disco ball is distracting during one of the songs.

*

“The World Goes ‘Round,” David Henry Hwang Theatre, Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Little Tokyo. Thursdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m., except no matinee this Saturday; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends June 30. $30-$35. (213) 625-7000 Ext. 20. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.

With Kerry Carnahan, Michael K. Lee, Paul Nakauchi, Jennifer Paz, Jennifer Say Gan.

Music by John Kander. Lyrics by Fred Ebb. Conceived by Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman & David Thompson. Directed by Tim Dang. Musical direction by Scott Nagatani. Choreography by Reggie Lee. Set by Melissa Ficociello. Costumes by Ken Takemoto. Lighting by Frank McKown. Stage manager Victoria Gathe.