[title of show] provides laughs and catchy music

By Ian Bott     11/18/13 6:00pm

[title of show] is a musical about friends who decide to create a musical about creating a musical. Confused? Allow Hanszen and McMurtry College Theatre to clarify with their collaborative production of [title of show], Jeff Bowen's 90-minute musical based on Hunter Bell's book of the same name. Producer Rachel Landsman, a McMurtry sophomore, and associate producer Grant Raun, a McMurtry junior, have helped in fashioning a comedic and entertaining production that excels in poking fun at the artistic process while also touching on serious and relatable themes. 

Hunter (Hanszen College sophomore Joshua Kee) and Jeff (McMurtry sophomore Cory Gross) have the idea to create a musical to enter into a festival. Kee and Gross show excellent onstage chemistry, playing off each other's humor unreservedly in a way befitting two good friends. They develop a fine harmony both with their voices and their characters. Hunter is a writer who is full of ideas and is charmingly ambitious and optimistic, propelling the show toward Broadway. Gross adeptly portrays the composer Jeff as a sassy, grammar-correcting character, while also showing a keen sensitivity and understanding.

Hunter and Jeff enlist the help of actresses Susan (Brown College senior Elizabeth Pogue) and Heidi (McMurtry sophomore Emily Statham) to perform their musical. Heidi is a budding actress forced to choose between securing minor ensemble roles on Broadway and chasing a risky dream with the group, while Susan is sharp-tongued and frenetic. Most of the time, Pogue is able to pull off a challenging role convincingly, while it is easy to empathize with the struggle and career dilemmas of Statham's character. The mysterious Larry (Hanszen sophomore Edward Cordell) enters and exits to accompany on keyboard and is a man of few words, spending more time reading the newspaper than engaging in dialogue. Cordell plays proficiently and delivers his rare lines to good comedic effect. 

---

---

Vocally, Gross and Statham are worthy of special mention. Gross shows off a powerful voice when the script calls for it, particularly in "Part Of It All." Statham's voice is tuneful and melodious, showcased very expressively in "A Way Back To Then." "Die, Vampire, Die!" and "Nine People's Favorite Thing" are among the show's most enjoyable songs.

Director Audrey Chao, a Hanszen senior, spares no expense to detail. The song "Monkeys and Playbills" is made particularly amusing by the impressive coordination of art-covered playbills. The set itself is minimalistic, composed in large part by four chairs and Larry's keyboard. Voice recordings and the efforts of the cast ensure smooth scene transitions. With no costume changes, costume designer Daniel Burns, a McMurtry senior, has the actors wearing everyday clothing that reflects individual character personalities, including Jeff's delightful green socks. The production's attention to detail also shows in the lighting choices. Jones College freshman Steven Pappas sets the mood well with a range of both warm and cool lighting, most noticeably with an eerie red glow as the play's intensity peaks. With a small cast and stage, the setting is intimate, and the actors even break the fourth wall on occasion. A potent sound system assembled by McMurtry junior Sean Harger and operated by Baker College freshman Bryce Willey only helps to strengthen this audience connection.

With plenty of expletives, the show is not the most family-friendly, and the actors poke fun that the show does not follow the typical Broadway formula. Some of the satirical references are difficult to grasp. As the novelty of the show's self-awareness fades, the cast does an excellent job performing with a liveliness and synergy that provides a high entertainment value throughout. Though the production is laced with comedy and good laughs, there are also serious undertones, and it is easy to identify with many of the obstacles the characters face.

---