Theatre Review: '[title of show]' at Brookfield Theatre

BROOKFIELD - Opening at The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts is the the musical comedy "[title of show]"

"[title of show]" has music & lyrics by Jeff Bowen, book by Hunter Bell, the Jeff and Hunter in the show, and is one of this reviewer’s favorite things.

This Obie Award winning musical follows Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers in New York, who enter an upcoming New York Musical Theatre Festival. Though the submission deadline is only three weeks away, they make a pact to write an original musical in that time as a writing exercise. The two recruit their friends Susan and Heidi to help with the project. We see their dreams and doubts unfold as they struggle to blend creativity and friendship and finish the show on time.

The TBTA production was directed by the director/musical director David Anctil in his Brookfield debut, with some cute dancing choreographed by Faith Fernandes. This is the first show that the choreographer has worked on since theatres reopened and the first she has choreographed.

Anctil writes in his director’s note that “as a lifelong theatre nerd,” he is excited to present “perhaps one of the funniest, sassiest, most ridiculous musicals” he has ever seen. “But at the same time, it’s a show with considerable heart. It explores the idea of creating art not only from a procedural view, but also the true-to-life breakthroughs, hurdles, moments of joy, sacrifices, trials and tribulations that the characters experience throughout the process.”

It truly is a behind the scenes look at the creation of a musical that delights every time I see it.

The musical stars Nick Mason as Jeff, Rob Bassett reprising the role of Hunter after a five year break from performing. Jami Valzania plays the role of Heidi and Jennifer Beveridge takes on the role of Susan.

Nick Mason, originally from Atlanta, is now a recent Danbury resident making his TBTA debut. He does a wonderful job of bringing the role of Jeff to life and has great chemistry with the rest of the cast.

I caught Bassett’s performance as Hunter in the 2016 TheatreWorks New Milford production of [title of show]. The actor is grateful for the opportunity to revisit this charming musical in the same role. So he is very familiar with the inner workings of this character and once again brings his wonderful singing voice to his vocals.

Valzania shines in the role of Heidi, the Heidi Blickenstaff role. She has a powerful singing voice and brings such charm to her role of an actress trying to climb the ladder of Broadway success. Beveridge, a Halo Award winner in 2017, is also great in the role of Susan in her first TBTA show.

The production features Sarah Fay as Mary, the accompanist. She is thrilled that she is able to return to the Brookfield stage in a role with some lines. A musical director of over 30 shows, the New Milford resident teaches both voice and piano. She sat on stage behind an upright piano and played the quirky score masterfully

Part of the fun of this little show is trying to catch all of the Broadway references in the script. “The festival” in “Into the Woods,” “Wicked,” and “Avenue Q,” all make appearances in this valentine to Broadway.

The clever projections of playbills were designed by the director and Andrew Okell designed and built the set with the four different chairs on wheels and decorated with a LGBTQ+ flag, a “Wicked” framed poster and more by Okell and the director.

The seniors who attended the preview performance were presented with a wrapped Rice Krispies Treat that read “Let our show be the Rice Krispies Treat. Spread the word about [title of show].”

The show runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission. Cast and crew are fully vaccinated. [title of show] opens Friday, October 15 with performances Fri. and Sat. nights at 8pm and Sun. at 2pm through October 23. Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for students & seniors, available at the box office or online at www.BrookfieldTheatre.org.
Masks and proof of vaccination required for all patrons attending this show. "[title of show]" may not be suitable for young audiences because of some pretty foul language.

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Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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