“Die, Vampire, Die!”
If this phrase means nothing to you, chances are you haven’t had the pleasure of taking in the little Broadway show that could, [titleofshow]. Featuring music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ recent production of this quirky little meta-musical was a distinct pleasure to behold, even if most of the references to obscure, flop musicals sailed right over my head.
The musical tells the story of two friends, Hunter and Jeff, who are writing a musical about two friends writing a musical. Based on the experiences of Bowen and Bell, [titleofshow] follows the two as they commit to write a musical to enter into The New York Musical Theatre Festival with the help of two actress friends—Susan and Heidi. The story continues as they make it to an Off-Broadway theatre before finally reaching their dream of making it to the Broadway stage. Along the way is a collection of amusing, often heartfelt songs about the group’s creative processes, self-doubts and, above all, their love of musical theater.
In the original Broadway production, all four principals were played by the real life people who inspired them, with Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff taking on the roles of Susan and Heidi, respectively. With such a well-defined relationship between character and actor at the root of this musical, it’s interesting to see how the actors in The Rep’s production put their own spin on the material while still staying true to the real life personalities that helped bring the musical together.
In the role of Hunter, Ben Nordstorm is—in turn—likeable, charismatic and even a little devastating when a scene near the end calls for it. Though his best moment in the show probably comes from his scene playing the role of ‘Blank Paper’ in the number ‘An Original Musical’—don’t ask—his Hunter is essentially the heart and soul of the piece, the one whose emotions become the most entangled with the ultimate fate of his musical creation.
Playing the part of Jeff, Benjamin Howes has a ball, playing a mixture of sassy theater queen and acerbic artist struggling to make it work. Stephanie D’Abruzzo—one of the original cast members of Avenue Q, another little Off-Broadway show that could—takes on the role of Susan, affecting a self-deprecating disposition and, I think, effectively altering her singing voice to fit her image of how that character, and the real woman who inspired it, should be depicted. And Amy Justman as Heidi is given the difficult task of playing the straight man to D’Abruzzo’s Susan for much of the show—though she is given a few key zingers—and she acquits herself admirably.
Admittedly, this will never be a show for everyone. First-time theatergoers could hardly be expected to understand much of anything about the history or processes of musical theater, but, for those even a little in the know, [titleofshow] is one not to be missed.
Though this current production has sadly finished its run, audiences should look out for new productions in the future. With a winning score, a zinger-filled book and what must be a relatively cheap production cost—the set consists of four chairs, a keyboard and various odds and ends that are imaginatively used and referenced throughout the show—one can imagine this becoming a popular production for smaller theater companies looking to capitalize on name recognition.
For more information about the upcoming season at The Rep, visit www.repstl.org.
More information about the musical and productions being held all across the United States can be found at www.titleofshow.com.
