All is not fair in love and war. This
old adage could not ring any more true to the new Off-Broadway musical Murder Ballad over at Manhattan Theatre
Club New York City Center.
This stunning production consisting
a four-person cast of seasoned and award winning theatre royalty vets.
Throughout the 80 minute performance the narrator, Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot) tells the story of a
love triangle involving of a woman named Sara (Tony Award Winner Karen Olivo)
who starts a steamy affair with her ex rocker boyfriend Tom (Will Swenson Hair and Priscilla) after becoming dissatisfied with her life with her
patient, loving and nerdy husband Michael (John Ellison Conlee) and daughter with
a major twist at the end. The entire show is sung with beautiful and enticing book
and music by theatre newcomers Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash and flawlessly
directed by Lynne Meadow gives the production its sharp edges that make it so
incredible to watch. The brilliant cast performs in a bar setting, interacting
with the onstage audience throughout the shows duration giving it a sense of
realism by breaking the fourth wall that it makes the simplicity of it so
beautiful so that your sole focus in on the actors and the gripping story they
are telling.
As stated earlier the whole cast is
phenomenal. Rebecca Naomi Jones is a fierce and edgy narrator with the pipes to
match. John Ellison Conlee gives a heart
wrenching performance of doting husband that makes your heart break when all comes
to fruition. Will Swenson brings out the vixens in all of us with his electrifying
performance as Sara’s’ ex and lover Tom. The always amazing Karen Olivo delivers a standout, captivating and flawless portrayl of the torn woman Sara dare I say it is perfection in her return to New York City Theatre.
Their performances all bring a different
element to the production, showcasing the writers beautiful story and lyrics
flawlessly. They don’t water it down and talk down to the audience quite the
opposite. They interact with onstage audience members the entire time and
deliver the story with the sharpness of a knife. Its edginess is what makes the
production so stunning and captivating to watch. You leave the theatre
replaying scenes in your head and wanting to know more about these characters
who are just everyday people, which is what makes them intriguing.
The story hits home to some but it
doesn’t leave an audience member too quickly after final curtain. It stays with
you and makes you think, wonder and question. That is what makes it a beautiful
piece of theatre, something that we need to see more of-bold new and different
pieces that leave you with a question or thought.
Murder
Ballad is gut wrenching and the creators knew exactly what they wanted to
achieve and that is exactly what they did. They have reinvented and revitalized
their very particular genre in the world of theatre that does not disappoint.
No comments:
Post a Comment