World Premiere of Underground
You do a jukebox musical, you have to make a choice: either the songs serve the story, or the story serves the songs. Underground, which (mostly) artfully weaves original musical material in and around the catalog of Gen X ambassador of angst Ben Folds, chooses the latter path, offering up a dizzying array of storylines among the employees, regulars, and newcomers at the sort of small-town bar that still puts the local high school football game on the big screen TV. Speaking of “among” —you the audience are among the bar’s denizens, buying drinks from the cast before the opening curtain, and watching them careen through your midst as they belt out their lamentations and (occasional) celebrations. It’s an engaging tactic, one that’s much needed, due to the muchness on display —with this many stories, it would be easy to get overwhelmed and pull an emotional check-out. Local-band-made-briefly-good Dick Holster is here, minus one. There’s a Pretty Girl and a Nice Guy serving drinks, along with a meeting ofexes. (So many exes!) There’s an old guy who just lost his job, a new guy who once lost his mom, a wobbly guy who’s always on the verge of leaving… It’s all recognizable and real enough —Folds knows his business, and the cast knows Folds —but it’s tough to stuff so many dramatic arcs into one night at a bar. Adding to the overwhelm (though maybe just mine): the space is small, and the music is big. I’m not sure the mics were necessary. Still: if local theater needs new blood in the audience to survive, this counts as a big step in the right direction.
When
Ongoing until Sunday, July 23, 2023
Hours
| Sundays, 2pm-4pm |
| Thursdays, 8pm-10pm |
| Fridays, 8pm-10pm |
| Saturdays, 2pm-4pm & 8pm-10pm |