Bay Street’s World Premiere of "THE MAN IN THE CEILING"

Bay Street Theater has opened their 2017 season with the world premiere of the musical THE MAN IN THE CEILING, book by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer with music and lyrics by Tony-nominated composer, Andrew Lippa, and directed by the Tony-Award-winning producer of Hamilton.

Jules Feiffer is perhaps best known an American satirist, but he is also a novelist, playwright (Little Murders), and a screenplay writer (Carnal Knowledge). THE MAN IN THE CEILING is based on Feiffer’s young-adult novel of the same name, which has enthralled tweens for more than two decades.

The musical is a coming-of-age story about a young, aspiring cartoonist, and yes, I imagine there’s some level of autobiographical material drawn from here. Jimmy Jibbett, played by a young and talented actor, Jonah Broscow, lives in a fantasy world where the comic book characters he draws are his only true friends. Puppets are used to bring these imaginary characters to life and Rick Lyon, best known for having created the puppets for the Tony-Award winning musical, Avenue Q, designed and built the puppets used in this production.

The upbeat choreography is by Spencer Liff, best known for his Emmy Award nominated work on the past 8 seasons of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance.

This musical is visually stunning and much of the magic of the show really falls upon Daniel Brodie, the Projection Designer. The innovative set, designed by David Korins, looks like a huge sketchpad. It’s fascinating to watch Mr. Feiffer’s illustrations morph across the backdrop throughout the entire production. The set pieces, kitchen table and chairs, also bear Feiffer’s signature sketches.

Jimmy is blessed to have an understanding mother, and Nicole Parker exhibits a great deal of compassion and tenderness on stage as she tries to diffuse the escalating tension between her son and her husband. Danny Binstock convincingly plays the part of Jimmy’s father, a man who loves his son, but doesn’t like him, because he just wishes that his son were more like the jocks next door.

Charley Beemer (Brett Gray) leaps off the stage and is highly energetic and totally believable as a conniving young man ready to exploit Jimmy’s talents and prey on his desperate desire to have a cool friend.

Erin Kommer as Lisi, Jimmy’s obnoxious but supportive sister, is a source of much comedic relief throughout the show, and Andrew Lippa as Uncle Lester steals the show with his expressions, body language, and expert delivery of his lines.

THE MAN IN THE CEILING plays much like a live action cartoon complete with gods, superheroes, and a mysterious, magical creature. It’s a family-friendly production, and I believe, like the book that it was based upon, it really is a show geared more to the younger set than for grown-ups. So, if you’re expecting something along the lines of the more R-rated Carnal Knowledge or Avenue Q you’ll surely leave feeling disappointed. THE MAN IN THE CEILING is a G-rated, colorful, uplifting production that let’s us know that failure can be a piece of future luck, so bravely and fiercely follow your passion wherever it leads. The live orchestra, the singing and dancing, the coming-to-life of Feiffer’s illustrations, all add up to a fun night of wholesome entertainment.

The play runs from May 30 - June 25. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500 or online at www.baystreet.org.

(Photo by Lenny Stucker)

Cindi Sansone-Braff is and award-winning playwright and author of Grant Me a Higher Love, and Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships. She has a BFA in theatre from the University of Connecticut. This summer, August 5th and 6th, Tomorrow’s Classic Theatre Company is producing her full-length play, Beethoven’s Promethean Concerto in C Minor, a theatrical tribute to the man, the myth, the music. For ticket information go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2936300