THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Bridge Production Group’s spirited revival of [TITLE OF SHOW] does the cult favorite musical proud

Keri René Fuller, Josh Daniel, Max Hunter, and Jennifer Apple in Bridge Production Group’s revival of “[title of show]” at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (photo by Nancy Fallon).

If there was ever a poster child for the little musical that could, it would have to be Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell’s uber-metatheatrical [title of show]. The show started off as a submission to a musical theater festival, where it was picked up for an Off-Broadway run in 2006 (at the Vineyard Theatre). Eventually, after much uncertainty and anxiety, the show landed on Broadway in 2009 (although Mr. Bell earned a Tony nomination for his hilarious and ingenious book, it’s shocking to me that the musical’s tuneful score wasn’t nominated). Here’s the loopy thing – the musical itself recounts its very creation and journey to Broadway.

Although the work loses some of its metatheatre luster without the show’s creators in the musical’s four roles, I’m happy to report that the Bridge Production Group’s spirited outdoor revival at the Brooklyn Navy Yard – which opened last Friday – does the cult favorite musical proud. Buoyantly directed with obvious affection by Max Hunter, the revival features exuberant, heartfelt performances by Keri René Fuller (as Heidi), Jennifer Apple (as Susan), Josh Daniel (as Hunter), and Mr. Hunter (ironically, as Jeff) all impart the unalloyed joy of creation with relish and charm to spare.

The production requirements are perfect for theater companies with limited resources at their disposal – all that’s needed are essentially four chairs and a keyboard, which is ideal for this revival’s makeshift outdoor setup. Despite some issues with sound and the stifling heat and humidity on opening night, I delighted all over again in the irrepressible vitality and wisdom of the material (among others, the mantra of “Nine People’s Favorite Thing” are words I live by). If you’re a musical theater fan and haven’t seen [title of show], do yourself a favor and get thee to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to experience this unlikely, one-of-a-kind musical.

In addition to [title of show], the Bridge Production Group is also presenting staged readings of A Golden City and I AM YOUR MASSEUSE (six short digressions), two new works by acclaimed playwrights John Patrick Shanley (Doubt) and Lyle Kessler (Orphans), respectively.

RECOMMENDED

[TITLE OF SHOW]
Off-Broadway, Musical / In-person
The Bridge Production Group
1 hour, 30 minutes
Through August 21

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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