35MM: A Musical Exhibition

Ryan Scott Oliver's "35mm: A Musical Exhibition" is like the musical theater version of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." In that novel, author Ransom Riggs strung together a fantastical tale from disparate and sometimes disturbing photos. In "35mm," Oliver composed songs after finding inspiration from the images of photographer Matthew Murphy (who ended up becoming his husband).

The difference is that "35mm"'s songs don't make a cohesive story. And while that may be the reason "A Musical Exhibition" is part of the title (this really is a bunch of unconnected vignettes, like an art exhibition), a concept like this would greatly benefit from even the loosest of stories. There are no props except what the actors bring on stage, say, a wine glass or a phone, and there's no backdrop, no set, and as there is no story, there are no character names, no way to keep all of it straight.

The inspiring photos are shown on tarps above the stage to give context for the songs, but they don't seem to connect. The six performers -- Jeff Scot Carey, Vincent Perez, Katherine Washington, Dana Shaw, Emily Clark and Cody Clark -- all acquit themselves well, as does the tight four-man band made up of keyboardist Charlie Ferguson, guitarist Kohei Ando, bassist Micah Preite and percussionist Ian Flores. The material just doesn't do them justice.

The songs range from playful to somber, though it's hard to tell if even the characters are interconnected. It doesn't seem the performer is playing the same role in each of his or her numbers. There's also no dialogue to help string a story along. It's like a rock opera without a through line, or a disjointed "Spoon River Anthology" without the gravitas. And with no through line, there's little emotional heft.

Part of the disjointedness may spring from the fact that -- perhaps because the theater is so small the performers and the band share a tight space on the stage -- it's difficult to hear the lyrics over the music sometimes. Plus, there are (if I counted correctly) eight directors overseeing the numbers. And while we get the idea that the images tell only part of the story, the part the songs are supposed to be expanding upon, there isn't enough insight with so many cooks in the kitchen.

All that said, some of the songs really do pop: "The Party Goes With You," about a husband who's the life of the party, just not with his wife, has pathos to spare; the upbeat "Make Me Happy" is a sweet, spirited duet; and "Caralee" is an amusing tune about a demon child of a daughter. Because the music is inspired by unrelated imagery, there are different styles at play, allowing the performers to work different muscles, from raucous to tender. There is fantastic harmonizing, and each actor gets a shot to shine, though Washington is a particular standout, especially when she plays a mean violin as part of her performance.

While images and music oftentimes go hand in hand, complementing each other and informing each other to create deeper meaning, when a musical like this is mounted, it helps to have some connection. A common thread gives a show deeper emotional thrust, and while there are some bright spots in "35mm: A Musical Exhibition," it needs a little more insight.

"35mm: A Musical Exhibition" runs through March 19 at the Dorie Theatre at the Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90038. For tickets or information, visit UA35mm.EventBrite.com.