While Leslie Uggams’ portrayal of Lena Horne generates waves of applause, and the wonderful talents of the entire cast create a whirlwind of upbeat numbers, this production falls short of being a perfect storm of theater and loses steam somewhere off the coast of dramatic excellence.

None of the fault lies with the performers. The problem is that the story is a loose, melodramatic collection of sporadic events from the life of the living legend. Rather than showing her life as a series of celebrations and triumphs, they present it as a series of tragedies and challenges, and it distracts from the fun vocals and impressive dance numbers.

Still, don’t steer clear of this storm. Ignore the gray clouds of gloom that hang over this production and enjoy the tempest of talent that pours from the stage.



Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. For more information, visit pasadenaplayhouse.org.