Days of Wine & Roses

 Days of Wine & Roses
The Musical
Studio 54
January 25, 2024 

Photo courtesy of Days of Wine & Roses

Days of Wine & Roses tells the tragic story of a married couple fighting alcoholism.  The book by Craig Lucas is compact and effective.  The music and lyrics by Adam Guettel are captivating.  The score pulls you into the downward spiral of the characters.  It offers moments for both characters to discover and reveal the cause of their pain, as well as revel in moments of clarity and hope.  Under the direction of Michael Greif, Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James deliver breathtaking performances.

Kristen Arnesen (played by Kelli O’Hara) meets Joe Clay (played by Brian d’Arcy James) at a work function.  He is in public relations, and she is his boss’s secretary.  His is drinking heavily, and she is reading.  She tells him that she does not like the taste of alcohol and that her weakness is chocolate.  He orders her a Brandy Alexander, which she drinks quickly as they open up about their childhoods.  A few weeks later, they are celebrating Joe’s promotion with champagne, Johnny Walker, and margaritas.  After they elope, Kristen takes Joe to meet her father (played by Byron Jennings).  He immediately dislikes Joe.  Kristen stops drinking when she has a baby, but is lured back by Joe’s desperation.  Their emotional need is only fulfilled when they are both drinking.  It is their magic place.  Their life begins to crumble.  Kristen abandons Joe and their daughter to stay with her father.  Their time apart is focused on healing and forgiving.  They long to be together as a family, yet the road to recovery is rough. 

Brian d'Arcy James & Kelli O'Hara
Photo courtesy of Days of Wine & Roses

The story is dark and heavy.  The highs of the drunken scenes feel risky and dangerous.  Each character has the ability to manipulate the other and pull them down just as they are getting themselves together.  That is the tragedy of the piece, and Kelli O’Hara and Brian d’Arcy James are so viscerally connected that these moments are real and tangible.  You feel for both of them throughout the story.  You hope they will not succumb to the temptation, yet you gain a true understanding of the depth and severity of their disease.

The skillfully crafted book, lyrics, and score is matched by the masterful performances, yet this is not an easy subject matter to sit through.  It is a beautiful production of a heartbreaking story.  Days of Wine & Roses is playing at Studio 54. 

Domenick Danza