Nothing remotely ordinary about "Ordinary Days" at SCR.
I was curious how a story about New Yorkers struggling to bring meaning to their lives against a backdrop of the usual pathos and passion in the city that never sleeps could actually be something new, something that we haven’t heard before.
Not only has this tale already been examined in other musicals, such as in "Rent" or "Company," I also spent my twenties in Manhattan, and felt pretty confident that this might be a theme I was all too familiar with by now. I was a bit concerned that telling this same story in a refreshing way to a post-"Sex in the City" audience could be something of a tall order. Or, so I thought.
However, right from the opening number of this lovely, engaging musical I knew we were in good hands and this was going to be a wonderful, interesting evening of theater that I would remember for some time to come.
Due to a very talented cast of four actors and the tight direction of Ethan McSweeny, "Ordinary Days" captured the audience’s admiration and won a well-deserved standing ovation by the end of the show.
What also struck me as we left the theater was how sophisticated a concept of the "Chamber Musical” really is. It’s a full musical scaled down to just a piano and the vocalists. (Duh.) Sounds like you’re getting less, but it doesn't feel that way in the slightest. In fact, I felt that it allowed us a more poetic examination of the story by virtue of paring down the production numbers to just voice and piano.
No, these days I like my musical theater just the way I found it in South Coast Rep’s wonderful run of “Ordinary People": Lyrical, engaging, moving and, yet, intimate. A perfect blend of what we’ve come to love from watching the small screen combined with the kind of theatricality one can only get by going to a stage performance.
If I had to list one of standout impressions I had from the show it was that each and every actor was so interesting and talented. The actors may have had a slightly more challenging job given Gwon's writing. The male characters are penned as both warm and vulnerable. The female characters required more work from the actresses playing them in order to make sure the writing didn't create female characters who could be perceived as being inexplicably cold or neurotic. (Does Gwon know me?) But the actresses and director are up to the task of balancing out this slight imbalance and bring to life four people we all wanted to know more about by the end of the show.
I don't want to spoil the final few moments in the play, but I did feel that the "a-ha" moment about why Jason (played by the young and handsome cougar magnet, David Burnham) was so head over heels for his love interest Claire (played by the also extremely talented Nancy Anderson.) should perhaps have come along a tiny bit sooner. Or in time not to think that Jason is a bit touched in the head with his fixation with Claire.
I thought the last one or two scenes, which encompassed both couples both outside and in the museum, were touching, lovely and inspirational. I won't say more because I don't want to ruin it. But, the theatricality of those few moments were truly inspiring. You don't get that kind of rush from the movies. I keep forgetting how relevant theater remains.
And I should also mention that the set design by Fred Kinney, was really terrific. I loved the idea of projecting images of New York onto moving silhouettes that neatly moved in and out in time to the pace of the show.
The pace and energy of the performances were flawless and I'm so glad I went.
Note: I never once here stooped to the level of my buddy Prince in his blog review of "Ordinary Days", by flat out stating that the guys were "hot." (They were.)
Other random observations about the show and it's performers, in no order of importance
Nick Gabriel (Warren) Adorable, extremely talented and gifted. I felt like we were going to see this guy for a long time to come. For some reason also reminded also a bit of Steve Carell. Or maybe that was just Steve from "Blues Clues" (No worries: That was a compliment)
Deborah S. Craig (Deb) Super talented and funny actress, when she was not being just a wee bit pitchy or two dimensional. But, that wasn't all the time. Sometimes she substituted emotion for articulation and got a bit slushy, but it could have just been opening night jitters. All in all, it was a great part. For the record, I happened to identify greatly with her character. (Again, have I met Gwon before?)
Nancy Anderson (Claire) Super amazing voice. Beautiful musical presence and sound. Very strong actress. Really gifted, however, occasionally I wondered if the director was actively seeking a Hamlet/Gertrude thing with this casting? I don't know. Maybe not
David Burnham (Jason) Sexy. Talented. Musically right on the mark. Great performance. Going places. See him now before he gets too expensive.
Ethan McSweeny (Director) Very talented. But, as I've already said, perhaps the women's parts could have used something to enhance their charm and likeability factors earlier on, not that this was easy, given that Gwon's writing gave the male parts an advantage for this. Amazing pace, and rhythm to fast moving scenes keeping the storyline taught, the characters engaging, moving and never once boring from start to standing ovation.
Listen theater goers and Orange County, you have about four days to catch the end of this terrific West Coast premiere before it closes and moves on. And you'll really want to see these performers now, because I have no doubt they're all headed for big things in their future.
Rain be damned. Hurry up and buy a ticket to see Ordinary Days, at South Coast Rep, right now, or you'll hate yourself in the morning if you don't.
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Tickets to ORDINARY DAYS can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances continue through January 24.
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