Sydney Reviews

You've heard of three men and a baby, but what about four chairs and a piano? If the first makes a family, then the second, surely, makes a musical. No? Well, that's the premise of [title of show]. Yes, that's what it's called: a Broadway musical, written by Jeff Bowen (music and lyrics) & Hunter Bell (book), a Squabbalogic production (yes, that's what the company's called), now playing at Seymour.

There's a touch of Seinfeld about it: two men, writing a musical, about two men, writing a musical. Featuring Keira Daley, as Susan, Blake Erickson, as Hunter, Paul Geddes (musical director), Jay James-Moody (who also directs), as Jeff & Lizzie Moore, as Heidi, this production doesn't put a foot wrong. Nope. Not even for a moment.

As my companion of the day pointed out (who, unlike I, pretends no expertise or experience in theatrical matters, which arguably lends the best judgment), it's such a relief not to have occasion to analyse, meditate upon, or discuss the work's pros and cons; rather, to be so thoroughly absorbed and entertain that, even attending with an express view to criticism, one forgets one's nocturnal mission.

The whole cast is perilously close to flawless; and you won't find me using a descriptor that uncompromising and unqualified very often, if ever. Accents, which can so often be annoying in the attempt, are convincing and every facet of performance is surefooted: comic timing; posture; body language and, especially, singing. It all works. OK, the rudimentary choreographic execution might be a tad doubtful, but that's really scratching to find fault.

This is all the more impressive for the fact that practically all that's on stage are the four actors, musical director (who has a small part, too), an electric piano and four rather interesting chairs. The focus is, therefore, very much on the performances: there's nowhere to run; nowhere to hide.

And what material with which to work. No wonder it got up, in the New York Musical Theatre Festival (2004); 'though due credit must go to the judges, in making a brave and insightful selection. Bell & Bowen wrote it in barely more than three weeks which, in itself, surely, must go down as some kind of record. What's more they did it on a shoestring, while they and their actress friends held down day jobs. I'm not sure it's ever enjoyed the degree of success it deserves, despite two stints off-Broadway, at The Vineyard, in 2006, and 115 showings at The Lyceum, on Broadway, a couple of years later. Since, it's had limited exposure down under but, hopefully, this production will get the word out: both the work and the company deserves much wider exposure.

There are, of course, in-the-know references to many other musicals and musical theatre personalities; clever lines; newly-coined words and phrases (like the handy 'hangry', being shorthand for hungry and angry), affectionate insults, coarse language and numerous other bold inventions.

It's quite a ride, the uncertain beginning of which is encapsulated in Two Nobodies In New York. (Jeff) 'What if this dialog were set to music? What if what we’re saying could be said in a song?' (Hunter) 'Hey, that’s not a bad idea! Perhaps we could use it. Music in a musical; how can we go wrong?'

Then there's the weird and whimsical An Original Musical, in which Hunter plays Blank Paper, an ironically black character, with stereotypical affectations. In so doing, Erickson is brilliant! It's deliciously bitchy, too: 'an original musical, like Kwamina and Starlight Express. My show could be a success and not a big mess, like Chess'. And provocatively irreverent: 'I pray Jesus Christ will help you get to Broadway and you can thank him in you bio someday'.

Built-in to this out-there musical by a couple of g'nerds is tragedy, conflict, introspection, self-deprecation, jealousy, rivalry and more. But always and above all humour, wit and a warm, beating heart. Squabbalogic have found all of these qualities and transplanted that heart from Bowen & Bell's Broadway to a place very close to ours.

At just past the halfway point, this is one of the great theatrical discoveries of 2010.


A Squabbalogic Production
[title of show]
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen | Book by Hunter Bell

Director Jay James-Moody

Venue: Downstairs Theatre | Seymour Centre, cnr City Road & Cleveland Street
Season: from July 14
Times: Tues at 6.30pm; Wed, Thurs & Fri at 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm
Tickets: Previews $25, Adult $39, Conc $30, Groups 10+ $28, Student/ Tuesdays $25
Bookings: Seymour Centre 02 9351 7940 or www.seymourcentre.com.au | Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 or www.ticketmaster.com.au