New Musical Stops In Greenbelt Enroute To Broadway!

We have the power free ourselves of the kudzu constraining our dreams. This is the message of the new musical “Choking out the Kudzu,” opening this Friday at the Greenbelt Arts Center. With its unconventional characters, powerful song numbers, and memorable performances, “Kudzu” is an independence anthem that dares you to aspire high, with something to offer everyone in return.

The musical follows two women feeling trapped in different ways: Stella (Joy Gerst) is a super-mom with no time of her own, while Bessie (BJ Bergman Angstadt) is the unwilling latest resident of a nursing home. When a random encounter turns into an unlikely friendship, a whirlwind of adventures ensue. And as Stella fills the hole formed by Bessie’s distant son and Bessie helps Stella finally pursue a dream deferred, they discover that each other might be just what they need to take control of their lives again.

The strength of the story lies in its characters. The two leads both steer clear of tired stereotypes. Instead of being a passive, out-of-touch granny, Bessie is cosmopolitan, with a zest for life and determination rivaling those of people half her age. Far from a meek, personality-less housewife, Stella is passionate about what she wants and not afraid to pursue it, even if this means standing up to her family.

But the supporting characters are noteworthy as well. Stella’s husband, Frank, has flaws that are smoothly developed as the musical progresses, keeping it grounded in realism and its characters from seeming too idealistic. Also, younger audiences will love Stella’s teenage children, whose own pursuits of freedom are realistically portrayed. These three-dimensional qualities make the characters dynamic, ensuring that audiences across age groups will find something they can relate to in each of them.

Other highlights of the show include the strength of the musical numbers, which are each as full of attitude as they are jazzy. “Refrigerator,” an especially memorable number, is a sarcastic piece where Stella announces her love for household objects, songwriter Betty Ladas’ lyrics expertly revealing Stella’s unhappiness with the confines of suburbia at the musical’s start.

The quality of the writing and songs can’t be discussed without also mentioning the performances. Gerst captivates as Stella, effortlessly belting out her songs, and Angstadt is no less talented, her embodiment of Bessie’s feistiness engrossing to watch.

So join Stella, Bessie, and the rest of the gang as they redefine what it means to live and break free for a couple of hours of the kudzu choking out your own life.