Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s
latest show, ARE WE THERE YET, carries as its subtitle "A
Family Survival Guide," which proves far more accurate than
the musical’s name – and, for that matter, the way the show has
been marketed.
Prior to the opening of ARE WE THERE YET, I had the distinct impression
that its focus was on a family vacation, a la the car trip from
hell. Of course, the idea of an entire musical set inside a car
seem a bit farfetched, or even quite slow, but I was prepared to
do my duty as a critic – even if it meant an entire evening of "Did
not!" / "Did, too!" dialogue.
Happily, this charming little musical is nothing like what I was
expecting.
What ARE WE THERE YET actually does is entertain in a way that
no on-stage car trip has yet managed. A series of more than 15
vignettes bracketed by few company numbers, this material threads
together a bittersweet and often funny collection of family situations,
ranging from the momentous to the utterly ordinary. The result
makes for a thoughtful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Many shows without some kind of through-narrative suffer from a
disconnect that constantly interrupts the theatrical experience,
but this new musical (written by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and
Cheryl Stern, with music by John Glaudini) easily escapes that
peril with a clear focus on the family life subject matter. And
no musical revue thrives without a topnotch ensemble – which is
exactly what ARE WE THERE YET has.
Tristan Layne Tapscott (on right in photo, above) plays a range
of characters – including a young soon-to-be father trying to get
a fetus enrolled in the right preschool, a dad intimidating his
daughter’s date on prom night, and an older man wondering if he’ll
inherit the Alzheimer’s that has submerged his mother. Every single
time, Tapscott is terrific, inhabiting a character with physicality
and emotion. There’s not a single off note in his many performances,
and you will leave the theater with a renewed appreciation for
the breadth and depth of Tapscott’s massive and multi-faceted talent.
And Tapscott is far from the only great performer in ARE WE THERE
YET.
Erin Dickerson and Sandra D. Rivera are never better than their
work together on "I Know She’s Out There," where an adoptive
mother and daughter – each searching for their biological relative
– meet online, yet they also shine as slightly competitive moms
during "Batting Zero." Additionally, they play roles
that span decades, from child and teenager and young mom to pet
owner, grandmother and retiree – and do all of them well. Rivera
is particularly outstanding in her "Audrey, Jr." scene,
where a new grandmother’s thrill at her family’s expansion is heartwarming
and unexpectedly emotional.
Tom Walljasper(on the left in photo, above), whose elastic comedic
style is often on display in Circa’s productions, also turns in
a series of deeply-felt emotional performances here. He plays a
baseball coach, a mid-life post-divorce dater, and more than one
proud dad – giving each role the right touch of nuance. The comic
turns – including a teen on prom night meeting his date’s overprotective
father and a gleeful senior citizen making the most of his improved
odds with the widows at his retirement home – are laugh-aloud funny,
and Walljasper makes the most of every single line.
Musical director Ron May, whose fine keyboard work blends with
the musicianship of Stephen Hopkins on bass and the always-superb
John Ladson II on percussion, deserves major credit for helping
this ensemble showcase their many talents. Director-choreographer
Ann Nieman has worked in a few cute dance steps – my favorite is
the choreography for "Cha-Ching" -- and should be quite
proud of how ARE WE THERE YET has turned out.
It’s a fine show that celebrates life at every stage.
© 2008 - rubynancy.com
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