Off-Broadstreet Theatre’s talented cast brings life to ‘The Great American Backstage Musical'

BY STUART DUNCAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

N.J. THEATER REVIEW

"The Great American Backstage Musical" is an exalted title for a modest little show that has been around for more than three decades without stirring much attention. It purports to be addressing the trials and tribulations of struggling writers and artists even as Europe saw the shadows of Hitler and Mussolini strut across the continent and even as Hollywood escaped to the simple stories that flourished during those stressful years.

Thus writers Bill Solly and Donald Ward labeled their work "a backstage musical" and set it during the war years 1939-1945 and placed it in New York, London and the battlefields of Europe.

I tell you this in advance because there is the distinct possibility that you might make little sense of what passes for a plot during the two-hour evening currently on view at Hopewell's Off-Broadstreet Theatre. And further possibility that the characters might make little sense as they sing and act their way through some pretty heavy going. In fact if the cast of six were not so talented and appealing, with pretty voices, frisky feet and numerous costume changes, all accompanied by strong direction, there would be precious little to admire. But the company tries so desperately hard to please, and are so successful at it, that you'll have fun — even if you sometimes aren't quite sure what's going on.

So, let's skip the story which may or may not have something to do with a small, New York night spot, broken or mismatched love duos, Hollywood, the London stage, World War II and any other debris that manages to wash up and let's just concentrate on the performances. Two of the performers are newcomers to Off-Broadstreet: Kerryn Paul and Mariel Rosati play a pair of ingénues in the New York nightspot; the latter tremendously successful with a Hollywood career; the former satisfied with staying with the stage in Gotham. The Hollywood challenge leads to a matchup with Jim Petro (as a secret multi-millionaire). Ms. Paul gets to sing songs such as "Crumbs in my Bed" which has little to do with either plot or character.

Another of the New York performers is named Banjo (and is nicely played by James Perri. Still another is Johnny (Kevin Palardy and the pair team up for a second act gem titled "Ba-Boom." And playing the only role that actually has a second name is Pam Jorgensen as Constance Duquette, a French chanteuse.) She works mostly in London and ends up at the finale marrying a guy we never even knew she had met. (So much for plot development.) So this turns out to be much more than a simple boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back piece.

And sitting at the piano during the show, picking up bits and pieces of dialogue when needed, is Eric Stedman. One gets the feeling that there is a fuller, perhaps longer script lying around that would make more sense of all this. But for the moment, thank goodness for the talent we've got. They'll keep you happy for two hours.

"The Great American Backstage Musical" plays at Off-Broadstreet Theatre, 5 So. Greenwood Ave., in Hopewell through April 3. Fri. & Sat. eves. at 8 p.m.; Sun. mats. at 2:30 p.m. The doors are always open one hour earlier for desserts and beverages. (609) 466-2766.