In Circles

“Papa Dozes, Mama Blows Her Noses.” That’s just one of the delightfully quirky musical numbers from this Obie Award-winning musical romp adapted by composer Al Carmines from A Circular Play by Gertrude Stein. Presented as part of Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s 50th Anniversary “Circa ’69” Season of significant and adventurous plays that premiered around the time of the Odyssey’s 1969 inception, In Circles sets Stein’s nonlinear prose, based solely on her pleasure at the way certain words sounded together, to a splendid musical score featuring ragtime, tango, waltz, opera, barbershop quartet, jazz, and other musical styles.

“A madly meaningful tea party which composer Al Carmines has turned into a gemlike operetta.” — Jack Kroll, Newsweek