Reviewed by Bill Stephens
If coarse
language and gross-out comedy rings your bell, then you’ll find much to amuse
you in Phoenix Players latest offering.
First time
directors, Sarah Hull and Nathan Patrech, have assembled a strong cast, led by
Zach Raffan, impressive as Rob, the self-absorbed proprietor of a run-down
record store, with a penchant for making lists and indulging in an active
fantasy life.
The show starts
out promisingly enough with a well-staged opening number, in which the audience
is introduced to Rob’s various employees and customers. Amanda Green’s clever
lyrics and Tom Kitt’s inventive score catch the ear with songs that pay homage
to a various recording artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin,
George Harrison and The Who.
 |
| Zach Raffan as Rob. |
Jenny Tabur’s
excellent rock band captures the mood of each song, thankfully played at a level
which allows most of the lyrics to be heard. Anita Davenport and Steve Galinec’s
rather gloomy setting works well enough, and Jennie Norberry has provided a
variety of appropriate costumes.
However,
after the first half-hour, it’s downhill all the way, despite the best efforts
of a strong cast which includes Max
Gambale, Will Huang, Josie Dunham, Miriam Miley-Read, Amy Dunham, David
Cannell, Emily Ridge and Anthony Simeonovic, between them playing a variety of repellent
characters who require rather more inventive and imaginative direction than on
show here, to make them palatable.
Jordan
Kelly’s repetitive video-clip movement added little to the proceedings, nor did
a shocking scene in the second act involving the close-range shooting and abuse
of one character by the principal actors, meant as comedy, but which drew
shocked gasps from the audience.
Phoenix
Players should be commended for attempting a reasonably contemporary musical;
however, it is disappointing to see so much talent and enthusiasm squandered on
such unrewarding material.
This review was published in the digital edition of CITY NEWS on 7th February. It will appear in the print edition of CITY NEWS on February 11, 2015.