Review: [TITLE OF SHOW], Phoenix Arts Club
Photo credit: Danny Kaan
Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, discover an opportunity to submit a show to a New York musical theatre festival. With only three weeks until the deadline, they enlist the help of their friends Susan, Heidi, and Larry to create something entirely new. Instead of overthinking, Jeff suggests they write about their process of writing the show itself. This meta-approach leads them to document their journey through creative struggles, self-expression, and friendship. [title of show] — taken from the festival application’s form field for the title — follows the group as they write and perform their show, dreaming of it changing their lives. In a span of 90 minutes, the audience watches their journey unfold, learning lessons about themselves as people, friends, and artists.
In this production, George Crawford as Hunter and Thomas Oxley as Jeff deliver very believable performances as the aspiring writers. Their chemistry and comedic timing anchor the show, making the audience root for their creative endeavour. Abbie Budden as Heidi and Mary Moore as Susan complement the duo perfectly, each bringing strong vocal performances and distinct personalities to their roles. Ben Ward, as Larry the Musical Director, not only provides flawless accompaniment on the keyboard but also adds to the humour with his well-timed lines and interactions, making the setting feel like a real rehearsal room and it is wonderful to see the musical director getting to be a larger on-stage part.
Taylor Jay's direction keeps the minimal set design of four chairs dynamic and engaging, emphasising the raw, workshop-like atmosphere that is central to the story. This simplicity works well to convey the intimate, behind-the-scenes feel of a creative process in motion.
For true musical theatre fans, the show is a treasure trove of subtle references and inside jokes, such as '525,600’ people wanting to see the show or wanting to be ‘Pop-U-Lar’. The song 'Monkeys and Playbills', with its witty use of playbill titles as lyrics written by Jeff Bowen, stands out for its cleverness and creativity. However, some of these nuances might bypass audience members who are not avid theatre enthusiasts.
The narrative effectively highlights the real struggles of the creative process, including the challenge of finding the perfect rhyme or dealing with multiple rejections before achieving success. Despite its meta storyline, the show is easy to follow and offers a genuine look at the journey of creating a piece of art from scratch.
[title of show] is a heartfelt and humorous exploration of the artistic journey, brought to life by a talented cast and a well-crafted production. For theatre lovers, it’s a delightful and relatable ride that celebrates the spirit of creativity and friendship.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Frances Tate
