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A CurtainUp Review
Girl Talk: The Musical
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Girlfriends are forever! — Girl Talk slogan
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Girl Talk: The Musical is a show-within-a-show. It centers on the end of the hit radio show Girl Talk, which after a 10 year run is saying farewell to its loyal listeners. The 3 women behind the program — Barbara (Tina Jensen) , Janice (Sonya Carter), and Dr. Laura (Priscilla Fernandez) — -insist on pulling out all the stops and making their "swan song" something to remember.
Sitting in their catbird seats in the studio, the three hosts have conversations on air and off, take calls from their listeners, and give teaspoons of advice to one and all. You've got to hand it to these ladies for their sheer locquaciousness. But it's too bad that they don't talk about more substantive issues than ovulating, casual sex, failed marriages, menopause and a weird Jack Daniels' diet. In short, their dialogue about their small ordinary lives never intersects with a larger one.
It is hard to assess what is most to blame here: The script by Tim Flaherty, Louise Roche, and Sonya Carter is saddled with tasteless jokes and pointless dialogue; the wildly clashing outfits of the 3 hosts; or Sonya Carter's misguided direction. The set by Sonya Carter makes sense and evokes the real atmosphere of a radio studio, but it's a shame when the set design becomes the star of the evening.
To be fair, the performers are capable. When they aren't dishing the dirt on men, sex, and love, they can really belt out a song. The musical numbers include selections from Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Ricky Martin, The Pointer Sisters, Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, and TLC and a couple of songs like "Think" and "I'm So Excited" do strike home. Unfortunately, there are too many mediocre melodies peppered into the mix. And considering that this is supposed to be Girl Talk's "Last Hurrah," the so-so musical numbers inevitably slow down the pace of the show, draining its energy. Besides their singing, t he performers show some talent as disco dancers, with Priscilla Fernandez, as the sex-pert Dr. Laura, a real dervish on the dance floor.
Ultimately, the entertaining moments are all too few and with the show running nearly 2 hours, some audience members are sure to get antsy before it's over. Two audience members I spoke with at intermission were clearly disappointed and found too many of the jokes were off-color and offensive to women. I wasn't surprised to see them walk out shortly after the second act began.
It's too bad that this is show turns out to be a perfect example of talented writers taking a detour down a wrong artistic path. So, take note, devotees of Girls Night: The Musical! You won't find much more in this sequel than a few good songs. But if you really want my advice about this tuner: Fuhgetaboutit!
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Girl Talk: The Musical Co-written by Sonya Carter, Louise Roche, Tim Flaherty Directed by Sonya Carter Cast: Sonya Carter (Janice), Priscilla Fernandez (Dr. Laura),Tina Jensen (Barbara). Sets: Sonya Carter Musical Direction & Choreography: Amy Jones Stage Manager: Hannah Dorfman Midtown Theater at Ha! Comedy Club, 163 West 46th Street (just east of Broadway) Tickets: $55. Phone (877) 386-6968 or www.entertainmentevents.com Opening 01/09/11, open run. Friday @ 8pm, Saturday @ 8pm; Sunday @ 3pm. Running time: 1 hour; 45 minutes with a 15 minute intermission Reviewed by Deirdre Donovan based on January 9th press performance |
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