Great for the “In” Crowd

(title of show)
Book by Hunter Bell
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Arizona Theatre Company
Herberger Theater Center
Directed by David Ira Goldstein
Choreography by Patricia Wilcox
Musical Direction by Christopher McGovern
February 18 – March 7, 2010
602-256-6995

     This is a show about writing a show for the New York Musical Theatre Festival! So right from the first line it is clear that if you are not an insider who understands a lot about the ins and outs of Broadway and New York theater in general, you may be quite lost and not appreciate the insider humor with which the show is replete. Such was not the case for me since I lived on the East Coast most of my life and spent many happy hours on and Off (and Off - Off) Broadway. For my husband and I, it was like coming home and we laughed our heads off. Of course, we also appreciated the gently satirical lyrics and the delightful musical score as well. (title of show) was for me a refreshingly different experience!

     Alas, I am afraid this was not true for many theatergoers (some of whom I spoke to after the performance) who were literally baffled by the allusions and were somewhat on the outside, trying to look in but having a difficult time of it. Sure they appreciated the talent onstage. It is not often that four people (five if you count the sole keyboard accompanist) can hold an audience’s attention so well for 90 minutes without a break. In the original show, the real Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen acted in the production but here two energetic, and talented young actors named Stanley Bahorek (Hunter) and Sal Sabella (Jeff) did the honors and were terrific. The two female roles were also well played by Lauren Leibowitz (Susan) and Kelly McCormick ( Heidi). There were no slouches in this bouncy ensemble.

     If there is any kind of theme to this show (and there really does not have to be in order to enjoy the clever twists, perceptive witty lines, and crisp musical numbers), it is the questions the two writers ask themselves when they set out to produce a script in three weeks and have it accepted in the Festival and ultimately on Broadway. Are we writing for art itself or art as a springboard to fame? Do we get a name star (talentless Paris Hilton is mentioned) or use talented people we know? Can we ask significant questions or should it be just fluff?  Hunter says, “I know I’m a writer and you’re a composer – I just want the whole world to know.”  When after the Festival closes, they are asked to present the show Off-Off Broadway and finally try to make it on the Great White Way itself, their friendship is strained to the limit when Hunter tries to redo the script to make it more “acceptable”. It is almost a total breakup for the gang until the final scene when what is probably the best number in the score unites them again as they sing “I’d rather be nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred  people’s ninth favorite thing.” In other words be yourself and you won’t go wrong. This is as close as you come to hearing a message.

     The technical production values of the show are many, although it is one of the simplest I have seen in awhile. The set is barebones (basically four chairs), costumes are the same throughout, sound and lights are minimal, but fantastic use is made of slides and computer images as poster after poster of old Broadway shows are flashed on the backdrop. And an adorable trip back through photos of the four actors’ childhoods accompanies the song which tells how they have all dreamed of making it on Broadway since they were little kids. A clever phone machine recorder is used for all the scene changes. The Directors have all used their creativity well in presenting this romp at ATC. It is just a shame that for many folks, the sub text of New York ambience escapes them (even though a glossary is included in the program). You simply have to have the correct background to really empathize and understand the show and Arizona folks who are not into theater themselves or who hail from the Midwest just cannot truly appreciate the genius that is (title of show).

     (title of show) is good, solid entertainment so if you are not New York theater aficionados and  do not mind missing some  of the humor, by all means go to see it. For those of you who are real Broadway fans, try to make it – the show is a welcome, creative change from usual theater fare.