Where can one find film noir, dining room farce (without slamming doors), a femme fatal, gangster movie stars, sleazy bank robbers, a Dick Tracy cop, a foot traffic officer, and some pulp fiction (not the movie)? In the “mother of all dime mystery novels” called “He’s Not Himself” which just finished its run as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival 2012.
This intriguing and well-conceived new musical comedy succeeds in many ways: it has some interesting music; it is often quite funny; and it is engaging. The current cast and creative team seem to have done all they collectively can to bring the musical to a needed new level. The Festival has been successful at getting an audience for this piece and giving its creative team an opportunity to tweak and to revise and to listen and to plan for the future.
And the future is the rub! The future will be the challenge for this quirky competent musical and it is going to take all the willpower Marc Silverberg has to let it go and watch it grow to success. At this point, Mr. Silverberg has to pull together a new creative team and re-cast the show. He knows that as does his dedicated and competent current creative team and cast. Much of what falters in the current piece seems to be connected to the direction of the work. Actors get close to understanding their characters but, ultimately, they do not and appear as copies of their true selves. It would seem the director could have challenged the actors more to reach more multi-layered, nuanced performances.
Additionally, the score itself needs to be re-orchestrated and some songs might need some re-writing. The book needs to be carefully re-worked without losing its current power. That said, “He’s Not Himself” has the potential for a successful future Off-Off Broadway or perhaps Off Broadway run. I look forward to reviewing this new musical comedy in its next incarnation. Kudos to the current cast members for giving this work their dedication and energy and craft. Keith Panzarella can deliver a mean scat and Carly Voight brightens the stage whenever she appears.
HE’S NOT HIMSELF
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Mark Silverberg. Directed by Michael Pantone. Sets, Costumes, and Props Design by Laurie Gamache. Lighting Design by Sean Beach. Musical Direction by Stephanie Wells.
CAST: Keith Panzarella (Gene Bauer); Carly Voight (Bonnie James); Marc Silverberg (Benny the Banker); Dexter Thomas-Payne (Detective Tom Vito); and Taylor Sorice (Kay McAdams).
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
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