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A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
MoM A Rock Concert Musical
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Hey - welcome to the Playwrights Theatre. Thanks for coming to see us. We're MoM. We're a band. We normally just play gigs - - you know. . . like concerts and stuff - - so this is all new for us - - doin a kind of theatre thing like this. We don't really know shit about plays or acting or any of that crap. So please - - be kind. &mdash Nancy
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(l to r) Stefanie Seskin, Jane Keitel, Donna Jean Fogel, Bekka Lindström and Dana Loren McCoy
(Photo: )
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Voted the Outstanding Musical at the FringeNYC 2009, MoM A Rock Concert Musical is now having its more traditional world premiere at a theatre that is not generally inclined to stage a rock concert no matter how dramatically conceived. This departure for Playwrights Theatre speaks well of its adventurous nature as it also speaks encouragingly of Richard Caliban, whose book, music, lyrics and direction are the main ingredient in this otherwise loud and slightly laborious musical.
MoM follows the successes and failures of five "soccer moms" who form a rock band, get discovered, become famous and live long enough to consider the price they have paid to feel fulfilled. Using the concert format to define and express their personal and collective journey as closely-knit members of their rock group MoM, Karen (Donna Jean Fogel: drums and congas,) Nancy (Jane Keitel: guitar,) Melissa (Bekka Lindstrom: guitar,) Ingrid (Dana Loren McCoy: Keyboards,) and Catalina (Stefanie Seskin: sax, flute, bass) are determinedly, make that dementedly, dedicated to their rock band's pursuits. Their purpose presumably is to develop their own self-worth and at the same time get as far from their homes, family and community as possible.
Caliban's score is also dedicated as well to defining each woman, her temperament and inner longings with songs that mostly reflect each woman's feelings about what they left behind and what they hope to gain by their independence. Referring to themselves as "hard ass bitches, " the songs they sing define the group's aggressively feminist tract.
The performers are a dynamic, attractive and talented group and look sensational, enhanced by the purposely frumpy to eventually flashy costumes designed by Sarah Cubbage. Colored lights flash impressively in typical concert style as MoM deploy their respective instruments almost as weapons. There is the prerequisite bombardment of feverishly delivered songs and emotional narrative bridges that deal with such things as the boredom of traditional marriage, the discovery of one's bi-sexual nature, promiscuity, the abuse of drugs and alcohol, and the regrets of being an estranged parent. That there is a bittersweet resolve, that is no suicide, is nice to report.
Two of the concert's most persuasive songs "Funky Town" and "I Unzipped Myself" are performed by McCoy as she follows Ingrid's downward spiral from an excess of drugs and alcohol. Seskin also makes a harrowing statement about her reckless relationships with "So Many Boys," while Lindstrom and Keitel discover their mutual attraction with the musical's most unsettling song "The Dark Side." Fogel is quite poignant as Karen, who realizes after the band has been on the road for eight years that she can have it all by returning home.
Receptive audiences (especially stay-at-home moms) can have it all in a little more than two hours. A nice touch comes via the floor level café tables and chairs that have been added to the regular tiered seating allowing patrons to consume refreshments.
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MoM A Rock Concert Musical Book, lyrics, music and direction by Richard Caliban Cast: Donna Jean Fogel (Karen), Jane Keitel (Nancy), Bekka Lindstrom (Melissa), Dana Loren McCoy (Ingrid), Stefanie Seskin (Catalina) Scenic Design: Drew Francis Costume Design: Sarah Cubbage Sound Design: Jeff Knapp Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes including intermission Playwrights Theatre, 33 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ (973) 514 - 1787 Tickets ($25; seniors $22.50; Students $15 Performances: Thurs 10/07 at 6:30 PM; 10/14 at 3 PM; 10/21 at 8 PM; Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM. Opened 10/01/10 Closes 10/24/10 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 10/03/10 |
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