“Death Takes A Holiday”

Imagine a world where there is no death or dying. Where fading flowers revive and aging people regain their failing faculties. For a brief weekend, that’s what happens in the new musical “Death Takes A Holiday” at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre.

For some, it is marvelous, but for Duke Lamberti and his valet, Fidele, it is frightening because they know the true identity of an unwanted guest at the Duke’s villa. Russian Prince Nikolai Sirki is really Death on a vacation. After sparing the life of a young woman, Grazia, after she’s thrown from a car, Death decides to learn why people fear him and cling to life so fervently. By the end, he learns that love is stronger than Death.

Death is very impressively played by Julian Ovenden, a 35-year-old Englishman. He is not only good-looking and expressive, but also has a wonderful voice. With all he has going for him, he’s destined to join a handful of leading male heartthrobs like Hugh Jackman and Harry Connick Jr.

Set in an Italian villa in 1931 after the devastating losses of World War I, the musical is based on a story by Alberto Casella. It was made into a movie in 1934 with the same title and then remade as “Meet Joe Black” with Brad Pitt starring as the enigmatic Death.

The play’s creative team is impressive. The director is Doug Hughes, the book by Peter Stone, “1776,” and Thomas Meehan, “Annie,” and the music by Maury Yeston, “Nine,” “Titanic.” The musical is lush and romantic but always with an underlying feeling of doom. Death is present, so something must happen. Even with its ‘happy ending,’ “Death Takes A Holiday” is bittersweet.

Jill Paice, who starred in “Curtains” and “39 Steps,” plays Grazia, who is filled with romantic notions and immediately breaks off her engagement when she meets and falls in love with the prince. Paice is luminous and lovely and has a pleasant voice.

The show is uneven and many of the songs in the first act serve as exposition. By the second act, the music is more tuneful and several of the individual characters have their spotlight numbers. There is one particularly moving song performed by Rebecca Luker as Grazia’s mother, who sings of her dead son. Her grief and remembrances are so touching that Death agrees to leave Grazia on earth. I kept thinking how just years before a young Luker would have been ideal as Grazia.

The new musical is staged in a small theater, but has big voices and almost bursts its seams. The rest of the cast is good. Matt Cavenaugh, “West Side Story,” makes an appearance as a dashing American pilot. His matinee looks and strong voice are a good fit. Alexandra Socha, “The Dream of the Burning Boy,” is adorable and winning as young Daisy, an American, pining with love for Grazia’s former fiancé who barely notices her. As Fidele, Don Stephenson provides much-needed comic relief.

The show has romantic music and themes and could have done well with more expansive staging and might have been better set in a larger venue. I’m not sure how well this musical will do, but I’m sure about Overdon. We’ll hear from him again...and again. When he first appears, all the young women in the villa are immediately attracted to him. So is the audience. Maybe next time he’ll get the girl and get to live happily ever after.