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A CurtainUp Review
Soon

...what do you do when you know you just have a few months to live?" — Charlie
Soon
Natascia Diaz (Photo by Teresa Wood)
The first song "When the World Ends," in Soon now premiering at Signature's Ark, prophesizes imminent doom. It is the hottest year in human history, the oceans are drying up, and the old boho funky New York has been over-run by "a Starbucks on every corner."

Blazing orange light can be seen outside the cluttered apartment where Charlie (Jessica Hershberg) and her gay roomate Steven (Joshua Morgan) live. And to further make the point, there are rear-screen projections of news broadcasts of seemingly apocalyptic events — tsunamis, earthquakes — anchored by CNN's Wolf Blitzer. Matthew Gardiner's direction, Dan Conway's set , Lane Elms's sound and Brian Tovar's lighting designs leave little doubt that this is Big.

What follows though is a mashup. Four characters, three of whom are young and living in New York City plus a goldfish, in search of a plot. Charlie, abandoned by her father, is frigid, has no visible means of support and a self-centered mother, Adrienne played by Natascia Diaz, in strong voice and mischievous charm. Steven has a tendency to over-eat, over-drink, and over-share, while Jonah(Alex Brightman) the delivery boy with a heart and the most likeable character in the show, displays an uncommon patience with Charlie. He's ready to bail out of New York and head for his family's home in Vermont; Charlie is not.

As always at Signature, the musicians (Darius Smith/conductor and keyboard; Jim Roberts and Stefan Alexander, guitar; and Bill Hones on bass) deliver the goods. Two songs stand out: "How Do You Know?" and "Make Love," both sung intelligently and sweetly by Charlie and Jonah.

Having begun with a very serious premise, Soon veers into Sesame Street territory with songs about "Peanut Butter" and the "Bar Mitzvah for the First Jewish Fish."

While melodic (Nick Blaemire' is responsible for the book, music and lyrics) these songs are just a bit too childish for the comic relief they are (presumably) meant to deliver. Other subjects covered include ADD, abandonment, and a serious illness.

There are similarities between Blaemire's previous world premiere at Signature, Glory Days, and Soon. The first piece was better, but though popular in DC it failed when it moved to Broadway. Some of Soon's songs could easily survive beyond the Signature run but as it is now, this musical looks headed for past history.

Soon
Book, Music and Lyrics by Nick Blaemire
Directed by Matthew Gardiner
Scenic Design, Dan Conway
Costume Design, Frank Labovitz
Lighting Design, Brian Tovar
Sound Design, Lane Elms
Projection Design, Matthew Haber
Cast: Jessica Hershberg (Charlie); Joshua Morgan (Steven); Alex Brightman (Jonah); Natascia Diaz (Adrienne)
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Va. 22206; www.signature-theatre.org; tickets $39 to $80; 703-573-7328; March 10 to April 26, 2015.
Running time: one hour and forty-five minutes, no intermission
Review by Susan Davidson based on March 22 matinee performance
Musical numbers:
When the World Ends/Charlie, Adrienne, Steven and Johan
Peanut Butter/Charlie
How Are You?/Adrienne and Charlie
Sweet and Golden Brown/Charlie and Jonah
Bohemia Paradiso/Adrienne, Steven and Charlie
Waiting/Jonah
Believe Me/Charlie, Adrienne, Steven and Jonah
Bar Mitzvah for the First Jewish Fish/ Jonah and Steven
Hasn't Happened/Charlie, Adrienne, Steven and Jonah How Do You Know?/Charlie and Jonah
Make Love/Charlie and Jonah>
The New Similes Dictionary




©Copyright 2015, Elyse Sommer.
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