Opined April 14, 2006

[title of show] - Music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen; book by Hunter Bell; directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse

WITH: Hunter Bell (Hunter), Susan Blackwell (Susan), Heidi Blickenstaff (Heidi) and Jeff Bowen (Jeff).

musical direction and arrangements by Larry Pressgrove; sets by Neil Patel; costumes by Chase Tyler; lighting by Ken Billington and
Jason Kantrowitz

Presented by the Vineyard Theater, Douglas Aibel, artistic director; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, executive director. At 108 East 15th
Street, East of Unioin Square (212) 353-0303. Through April 23. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Just get over to the Vineyard and see this excellent production.  Although it uses the never original structure of “telling the story of how we wrote
the story” it steps out of the proverbial box so often and so well that you begin to wonder which side of the footlights you are sitting.  By the end of
the show you realize these two writers have removed the footlights.

This is the story of a musical written to submit to a New York contest.  It wins and we see it performed.  The writing takes you on a path down
which the mad hatter might have lead Alice.  Filled with trap doors and back-switches.  

So this will be the first line in the show?
Yes.
And this will be the second?

Or

Susan you’ve been quite during all of this.
I didn’t have a line until now.

Dialogue and music flow forward until thwarted by a roadblock, then figure out a way around it.  Bell and Brown don’t look like leading men.  
Blackwell and Blickenstaff lack the corresponding female physical attributes that equal leading lady.  YAY!  They are just skilled performers having a
great time.  What a concept.  And it is a testament to generosity that the songs that pack a punch belong to the women.  

It is an evening that will sweep you into its arms and NOT lull you to sleep.

©2006 by Tulis McCall