“Deployed” at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre (Closed on Tuesday July 22, 2014)
The Cast of "Deployed" - Photo by Christine DiPasquale
“Deployed” at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre (Closed on Tuesday July 22, 2014) Book, Music and Lyrics by Jessy Brouillard Directed by Mindy Cooper Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
Jessy Brouillard’s “Deployed” just completed its American premiere run at the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival. The new musical seems to be in search of an identity and hopefully this NYMF run will give the creators the opportunity to clarify that identity. On the one hand the musical seems to want to be the heartfelt story of Emily Baker (Janice Landry) and Anthony Wilkes (Bryant Martin) and their somewhat turbulent relationship during the Iraq War. On the other hand, the musical wants to tackle the more enduring questions about war and peace, confession and forgiveness, and unresolved anger. These weightier issues are more than this musical can handle despite its two hour length and its musical score.
Several of the show’s sixteen songs are beautifully written and beautifully performed. Among them are: “I Know I’m Home,” Emily and Anthony’s mantra for their love; “For Those Who Follow;” and “The Poem.” Perhaps the most impressive song in the show is sung by Laila (Nina V. Negron), Emily’s interpreter, eventual confidant, and murderer of Anthony. Laila’s “Lullaby” is heartfelt and expresses the authentic matrix of feelings that occur after the death of a loved one. Unfortunately there are a few songs which have no contextual meaning and are as vapid as they come. Brooke’s “Come to Mama” sung by the talented Natalie Toro could easily be cut from the musical. This actor’s well-honed craft – as exhibited elsewhere in her portrayal of Sergeant Brooke Redmond – is completely wasted on this silly song. Unfortunately, Ms. Toro is given no other opportunity to use her gifted voice.
The plot is driven by characters who are not completely defined and whose growth is either questionable or far too accelerated and by conflicts that remain unclear and beg for resolution. For example, after over one act and three-quarters of being a miserable human being, Corporal Emily Baker – after a bit of a chat with Brooke – experiences redemption and release from years of unresolved anger. Psychotherapy should be a quick and easy. None of this is the fault of performer Janice Landry who gives Emily exactly what the creators and director must have asked for.
Emily feels the need to prove herself in battle and requests a transfer from her home base to Iraq where her boyfriend of nine months is serving. Unfortunately, Anthony is on his way home after inadvertently killing a civilian female child (Laila’s daughter Rose). He has had enough of war and does not sign up for redeployment. So they are again separated and that space seems to give Emily’s rage and jealousy and mean-spiritedness a fertile ground in which to fester. When Emily arrives in Iraq she discovers she will be assigned to train women, not men: this throws her into a tizzy and repeated tiffs with her interpreter and trainees. One wonders: what is the point? If you are so intent on proving you can compete with men, simply take the assignment given and make it work: that is what successful people do!
The plot gets complicated (including Anthony’s return to Iraq) with disingenuous banter about “needing to save the world” and “making the world a better place” and “ending cycles of hate, a problem not solved by war.” Add to that mix Mr. Brouillard’s attempt to deal with the LGBT community and serving in the military: this comes up short and is more gratuitous and homophobic than helpful to the cause.
Hopefully the talented Mr. Brouillard and his creative team will continue to develop this new musical. There is no reason why with some careful editing and re-writing, it could have a successful future.
DEPLOYED
“Deployed” is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mount Elise Entertainment. Director: Mindy Cooper.
The cast for “Deployed” includes: Kyle Robert Carter, Hannah Rose Deflumeri, Erik A. Gullberg, john D. Haggerty, Collin L. Howard, Adam Hyndman, Ashanti J’Aria, Anna Lise Jensen, Clayton Jones, Janice Landry, Bryant Martin, Nina V. Negron, and Natalie Toro. The orchestra includes Justin S. Fischer (Musical Director/Keyboard 1), Jack Morer (Guitarist), Gregory Landes (Drummer), Ben Ruben-Schnirman (Bass Player), and Brandon Sturiale (Keybaord 2).
The production team is comprised of: Frances Nelson McSherry (costume design), David Lee Cuthbert (lighting/projection design), Haddon Kime and Rick Lombardo (sound design), Anna Ebbeson (musical director), Delores Duran-Cefalu (music supervisor) and Matthew Stern (production manager). Press Representative: Richard Hillman. Production photos by Christine DiPasquale.
“Deployed” concluded performances on Tuesday July 22nd at 5:00 p.m. at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, NYC 10036. For more information on the show or the Festival, visit nymf.org.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Thursday, July 24, 2014
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