Beyond the prop lecture items of blackboard, clipboard, and water bottle are some theater trappings. Daniel Ionazzi’s stage design is simple: A large glass-leafed tree right out of Cliftons looms stage right while Gerald Sterbach's grand piano is stage left. A small projection screen, for historic clips and photos, is frequently revealed in the middle of enough pin lights to indicate the stars of Hollywood and the galaxies far away.
The quickest way to claim theater credentials is to stitch a couple Sondheim tunes into a show, and to the accompaniment of recent Ovation Award-winner Sternbach, Fisher dishes the appropriate "Losing My Mind" and "Anyone Can Whistle." The opening and closing number is “Happy Days are Here Again,” a bittersweet acknowledgment of the up and down rhythms of celebrity. This celebrity, who introduces herself as an alcoholic and her story as “true,” knows the fickleness of fame. And, like the Democrats who likely control this house as they now do the house in Washington, FDR's theme song is a celebration of returning – however briefly – on top. While the aesthetics of Wishful Drinking may be in question, the economics are unimpeachable. The Geffen had to add a week of performances to Wishful's run before it even opened. Now they can get back to theater, and bashing Hollywood, with Mamet's Speed-the-Plow in January.
CREDITS: written and performed by Carrie Fisher, directed by Joshua Ravetch, with Gerald Sternbach at the piano. Daniel Ionazzi, design; Mary Michele Miner, stage manager
Geffen Playhouse • world premiere November 7 – December 23, 2006
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