Review: 'First Date' at Seven Angels

WATERBURY, CT - Seven Angels Theatre, an Equity Professional Theatre in the heart of Hamilton Park in Waterbury, opened FIRST DATE on Saturday with a Post Show Party held in the lobby. The opening night audience got to meet the cast and everyone enjoyed some great food catered by the fabulous Ralph Cantito.

‘First Date’ has a book by Austin Winsberg with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. The musical is a real-time blind date experience that runs the gamut from thrills to chills as this couple gets to know each other, and it brings the audience along for the crazy roller coaster ride. The stellar Seven Angels cast of (coincidentally) seven actors bring the 22 characters to life.

So the awkward Aaron (brought to angsty life by Constantine Pappas) and “serial dater” Casey (played to perfection by Christina Carlucci) are actually on their first date at a trendy NYC restaurant envisioned by scenic designer Emily Nichols. Also on hand are protective friends, a meddling grandmother, a neurotic ex-girlfriend, an uptight sister and even one nightmare of an imaginary child. The memorable music and a truly hilarious script make for an upbeat and very fast-paced musical with an off-beat, Off-Broadway feel that was so much fun. I enjoyed every minute of this show.

Sasha Bratt, the Assistant Professor of Theater at NVCC in Waterbury, directed this wonderfully talented group of actors in rehearsal for only two and half weeks; each had plenty of time to shine onstage. Each one did stand out on their own and impressed everyone with their singing and comedic timing during their ninety minutes onstage with no intermission. I’m told that there has been some minor updating to the show that the director incorporated into this high-quality production. Mr. Bratt will be directing the next production at NVCC entitled MR. BURNS: A POST ELECTRIC PLAY that runs April 4 - 7.

Music director Brent C. Mauldin (ALTAR BOYZ) conducted the pit band and played keyboard one, Ken Nigro played reeds and keyboard two, Jamie Sherwood (recently in the pit for THE BIKINIS at CCT) was on guitar, Dan Kaszewski played bass and Mark Ryan was, as always, on drums. Vocal and incidental music arrangements are by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker with orchestrations by August Eriksmoen.

Equity member Constantine Pappas (JCS at 7A) returned to this stage to play the role of Aaron to perfection. His most recent credit was performing in the national tour of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. His easy stage presence as the angst-filled Aaron was a pleasure to enjoy and he kept the audience rooting for a love match for his character, “Something That Will Last.”
Equity member and NYU grad Christina Carlucci returned to 7A after playing Olive in their production of SPELLING BEE; I got to be an onstage extra at one of the performance, an experience I will always remember. I believe the song “Safer” is a make or break number and the powerful voice of Ms. Carlucci was clearly up to the challenge. The actress captured the toughness of Casey, as well as the arc of this leading character.

Equity Candidate Carly Valancy took on the roles assigned to Woman #2; she played the idolized ex-girlfriend Alison and the incarnation of a search engine, “Google Girl” in “The World Wide Web is Forever.” As Alison, her entrances were accompanied by a light shower of large confetti, a great touch. Equity Candidate Niko Touros played Man #2 and was amazing when he played Casey’s gay best friend constantly calling her with “Bailout Songs.” Mr. Touros was memorable as Usnavi in Playhouse on Park’s IN THE HEIGHTS. Equity Candidate Ethan Kirschbaum, who was part of the KINKY BOOTS national tour, easily covered Aaron’s guiding friend Gabe, Stoner Guy and the incarnation of YouTube as Man #1.

Anna Laura Strider, an Equity Member Candidate who played the wife of Dion in ROCK AND ROLL REDEMPTION, was wonderfully effective as Casey’s sister, Aaron’s Jewish grandmother Ida and the rest of the roles of Woman #1; she aged up to tug at our heartstrings as Aaron’s mother in “The Things I Never Said.”

And then there is the supremely talented Jimmy Donohue, an Equity Member Candidate who waited tables in the Goshen Players production of FIRST DATE. (Fun fact: Jimmy played William Barfee in that memorable SPELLING BEE, among many other roles on the 7A stage.) As usual, this 7A darling had me in stitches for all of his takes on the roles of Man #3. Whether serving food and drinks as the attentive waiter, thumping the Bible as Casey’s father or performing his big number “I’d Order Love,” he is always at his comedic best in this show.

Christina Watanabe did the memorable lighting design and sound design was in the always capable hands of Matt Martin. The orchestra never overpowered, although I had difficulty getting the lyrics in the company number “The Girl For You.” Lisa Beby nailed the present day costumes.

Next up at Seven Angels is THE WHO’S TOMMY opening on April 25 and running through May 19.