I suspect this scenario has been played out hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of times throughout history: A couple of friends are sitting around the house, the bar or backstage when an idea – often fueled by alcohol – strikes. "Let's write a play and take it to Broadway." Most never write that play, of course. But if they do, only their family, friends and a few others are likely to see it – ever.
On very rare occasions, though, Lady Luck DOES prevail – and the (mostly) true story of one such lucky pair gets an energetic and heart-felt staging at The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale.
"[title of show]," which had popular runs off-and-on Broadway between 2004 and 2008, can't easily be categorized and pretty much defies description – which was one of the goals of co-creators and co-stars Jeff Bowen (music and lyrics) and Hunter Bell (book). "We're trying hard not to duplicate what we've seen and heard before," they sing in the musical's "Untitled Opening Number" – and for the most part, they live up to that noteworthy goal.
If the plot sounds simple, don't be fooled: "[title of show]" is "about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical." As such, the play documents the life of what would become a Tony Award-nominated hit – from the initial idea to enter an original script into the first-ever New York Musical Theatre Festival to its opening four years later on the Great White Way. The hitch, however, was this: The deadline to submit their script was three weeks away, and neither a script nor a concept existed yet.
The "Untitled Opening Number" explains the premise, and it's fleshed out in the prologue to the next song, "Two Nobodies in New York." "So everything I say from now on could actually be in our show," Jeff asks Hunter. "Like this?" Yes, like that – and thus is set one of musical theater's most unique premises: a self-referential, "warts-and-all" musical comedy that pretty much shatters the fourth wall and every other theatrical convention held holy by creators since splashy musicals first hit the Broadway stage.
Prognosticators foresaw nothing but disaster, of course. After all, who ever heard of a Broadway musical with only four unknown actors, a piano and four chairs! Yet "[title of show]" became the talk of the town – and after seeing The Ringwald's production, it's easy to see why.
For starters, it's the story of struggling underdogs who have high hopes and impossible dreams, who, after much hard work and some very tense and trying moments, taste success. Plus, it's damn funny and creative, too!
It's also the perfect show for a small, storefront theater such as The Ringwald – a theater known and respected for taking chances and staging quirky, unusual productions. And in the hands of director Joe Bailey and his "J Team" – Jeremy Ryan Mossman (music director), Jerry Haines (choreographer) and Jeff Bobick (Larry, the accompanist) – "[title of show]" is yet another thoroughly entertaining night of theater in downtown Ferndale.
Bailey's four cast members are a true ensemble; no single performer dominates or stands out. Instead, they work in total unison – and they look like they're having a blast while doing so! As such, they become fully believable in the roles they play. Still, each brings something important to the mix that helps propel the story.
Jamie Richards (Jeff) and Allyson Ortwein (Heidi) have the strongest voices, while Joe Plambeck (Hunter) and Jamie Warrow (Susan) excel with the comedy. Together, they're already a well-oiled machine. (Except for some of the harmonies, which occasionally go astray. And don't worry if you don't recognize some of the names that are dropped throughout the show; few outside the industry or New York will, either.)
REVIEW:
'[title of show]'
Who Wants Cake? Theatre at The Ringwald, 22742 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Friday-Monday through March 15. $10-$20. 248-545-5545. http://www.whowantscaketheatre.com
