Now Comes the Fun Part! : Aging – Tongue Firmly in Cheek
As everyone lives longer, “The Big Five-O” becomes “the senior side of the great divide.” Suddenly both your kids and parents are responsibilities. A group of frankly older (slight disconnect), capable thespians present wry, silly, or poignant skits and songs about realizations and crosses we bear. Material is a mixed bag of cliché and clever. A bit of editing would serve to make this as adept as it is universal.
“Stuff,” about packing up to downsize (Rebecca Eichenberger with just the right tone), is low key and spot on. The performer later inhabits a harried woman’s life with an on-the-button metaphor, “Spinning Plates.” Vocal is precise, well phrased and acted. Music could be a tad more circusy.
Rebecca Eichenberger
Retirement is twice observed: The sarcastic “Things I Will Not Miss” (Eddie Korbich who brings charm to every role) arrives with a droll song and dance (great choreography). “Mr. Wallpaper” presents a wife bemoaning her husband’s complete passivity: “…not the guy he was before/now he’s more like home décor.” (An affectionate, frustrated Aisha de Haas.) The actress later offers Surprise, a poignant skit about accepting one’s gay son. We feel her.
Possibility of gene pool dementia is addressed by “Inheriting Laura.” (The touching Eddie Korbich.) “It’s Scary Out There” emerges a lost opportunity about dating after losing one’s spouse. (A grounded Dvorsky and company.)
George Dvorsky, Aisha de Haas, Eddie Korbich
A highlight is the series of song excerpt parodies which will ring true to anyone past a certain age. “I got a brand new hip replacement and you got a brand new knee” (Brand New Key by Melanie); “Do you know where you’re going to/Why you came through the door you just came through?”; (Gerry Goffin/ Michael Massur – Theme from Mahogany- Diana Ross); “Clap three times/When you wanna turn the lights off…”(Knock Three Times by Dawn – with Tony Orlando); “WHAT did you say?” (YMCA – Jacques Moralli/Victor Willis- The Village People)…
The explanatory introduction is superfluous and corny. A skit about Freefall brand colonoscopy lands like a toilet joke.
Photos by Carol Rosegg
Opening: Aisha de Haas, Eddie Korbich, Rebecca Eichenberger, George Dvorsky
Now Comes the Fun Part!
Book by James Hindman and Lynne Halliday
lyrics by Mark Waldrop/ Music by Jeffrey Lodin
Music Direction- Jeffrey Lodin
Directed by Mark Waldrop
A NEW2NY Presentation (Mufti, but new) at The York Theatre
Coming Up in the series:
Twist of Fate: September 7-15
Monte Cristo: September 21-29
Inundated October 4-13
The York Theatre
Theater at St. Jeans
150 East 76th Street
