Monsters the musical

From: "will stackman" profwlll@yahoo.com

Subject: Quicktake - "Monsters" - book by Gail Phaneuf, music by Ernie Lojil

Date: Sun, Sept 17, 2006 12:14 PM

Quicktake on MONSTERS

     Gail Phaneuf's musical comedy "Monsters" had a workshop last season at Emerson. and now under Centastage's aegis joins Geo. Sauer's "Heading for Eureka" as their second premiere of locally developed work this calendar year. It seems to be Phaneuf's entry for the category of plays for women about mid-life crises, but cleverer than most. It will be interesting to see how it develops. The show currently has one set, six characters, a passable of contemporary songs which relate fairly well to the eccentric story line, and no intermission. It wouldn’t be hard to find the right moment for one. The music needs further arrangement and the perfunctory overture should be dropped for a more interesting opening.

     As Samantha, the main character neurotically turning forty, Lisa Beausoliel who’s been with the project for awhile, has an interesting comic sense and good musicality. Her nemesis, her domineering mother, played by Cheryl McMahon, is almost a stereotype, but shows some of her own neuroses as the show progress, More sooner might help. Sam’s real opponents are her own phobias, who confront her musically in the most interesting—and potentially confusing—center of the show. Michelle Dowd is Fear, dressed in purple and black with a cape, Patti Hathaway in a baggy green track suit is Apathy, the funniest of the lot, and Wayne Fritscher is Body(Image?) wearing an outfit which suggests that he’s a hairdresser. He’s the bitchiest of the three. The final member of the cast is Molly Anne Kelleher who shows up as a Birthday stripper sent mistakenly for “Sam.” The three demons all need to be connected to persons from the heroine’s past.

     The show has various twists which aren’t necessarily reflected by Ernie Lijoi’s contemporary score which is well-presented by music director/conductor Stephan Bergman. The only obviously missing number is a confrontational duet during the first mother/daughter scene. Joe Antoun’s direction is competent and Christine MacInally choreography adds interest though neither really captures the fantasy of the piece. Ken Ross' set, lit by Jeff Adelberg emphasizes Samantha’s plainess but hasn’t much appeal. However, the technical support is sufficient to raise his production above the usual workshop presentation and all-in-all, “Monsters” works, except for the title, which is justified by the storyline would probably give prospective audiences the wrong impression. “Samantha’s Monsters” might be better, but something more evocative should be found..

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"Monsters" - book by Gail Phaneuf, music by Ernie Lojil, Sept.15 - 30

Centastage at BCA Plaza Theatre

539 Tremont, (617) 933 - 8600
Centastage