San Rafael composer rustles up new tunes for Marin Shakespeare Company's new adaptation of "A Comedy of Errors"
SAN RAFAEL, CA - In between her weekly performances at Marin Joe's in Corte Madera and Hotel Healdsburg in Sonoma County, pianist, vocalist and composer Leslie Harlib of San Rafael rustled up western storytelling and satirical inspiration to write several original songs for Marin Shakespeare Company's 2013 country western adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors."
The outdoor summer production plays at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre in San Rafael through Sept. 29.
Harlib is a certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and gibberish expert. Harlib is also journalist who has written about social and culinary news and theater and restaurant reviews for newspapers including the Marin Independent Journal.
But, Harlib is probably best known in the Bay Area for her extensive repertoire of vintage jazz and Broadway musical theater. A gifted improviser, Harlib often astounds audiences with her witty, spontaneous lyrical spins of popular tunes.
Harlib looked to revered musical satirists for inspiration and structure to write the original tunes that underscore characterizations and capture the mood and cultural setting for the story.
"I have always admired the great satirists who used music and rhymes to make points about human nature and situations. Tom Lehrer, Noel Coward, Cole Porter and in recent years, Mel Brooks — are among my lyricist heroes," said Harlib. "It was clear from the Marin Shakespeare script that directors Lesley and Bob Currier were going for a hybrid of classic Shakespeare with spoofy-Western-style language and a contemporary spin that plays up the utter farce of it."
Harlib studied Shakespeare's "Comedy of Errors" to better understand the meaning and essence of the play.
"Some of the best storytelling comes from the Country-Western genre. So, I tried to create songs that had several elements. The songs reference classical musical theater structure, but have a country western feel," said Harlib.
Harlib added that songs have an upbeat 'oompah' that play into the pace of the farce and distill some of Shakespeare's points about characters and feelings.
"I used contemporary language. I saw the Curriers' desire for original music to be a bridge between Shakespeare and 20th century musical genres that the audience would know and appreciate," said Harlib.
"I love the way Allan Sherman in the 1960s always took familiar songs and wrote parodies to them that kept the same rhyme and pattern. Everyone knows 'Home on the Range.' With "My Master's Deranged," the fit was fun, playing to the storyline yet also making it very clear to the audience that this is a parody of 'Home on the Range,' " said Harlib.
For "Texas Wife," the Curriers asked that the song to make people think of the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song "I'm a Woman - W O M A N," made famous by vocalist Peggy Lee. Harlib took the inspiration, then tied the song into the situations that a comedic female character might face in a rural, pioneering area in Texas.
Harlib said she wrote "Round up the Loonies" with the audience in mind.
"I thought of 'yee-haw' songs from films with western settings and themes like 'How the West Was Won' - when Debbie Reynolds sings "Raise a Ruckus Tonight' or 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown" - when they all sing 'Belly Up to the Bar.' I wanted to capture that same kind of stomp your feet, clap your hands and 'have some fun' feeling for the audience," said Harlib.
"Woman's Lot" is a summary song. Harlib tailored the piece to reflect the irony of intelligent women, who simply by virtue of their sex, had no power and had to "yes" men as a matter of law, not just of situation.
It was the song entitled "Antipholus," a romantic waltz, which came with a unique problem.
"It was a stimulating challenge to think up all the 'things' that would rhyme with Antipholus," said Harlib.
"This production is a musical. It's zany and unlike any other 'Comedy of Errors' audiences have ever seen," said Harlib.
Performances of "A Comedy of Errors" are presented in repertory at 8 p.m. on select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and 4 p.m. on select Sundays. For specific dates and performance times call 415-499-4488 or visit www.marinshakespeare.org
