There are times when you want to go to see a show that will give you some good hearty laughs. They aren’t easy to find all the time. But I struck gold last night when I went to New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse to see Getting the Band Back Together. The laughs come often and easily at this show. It is a high energy show with some good songs and some good old fashioned love for New Jersey. And to add to that Jersey love, last night was Sayreville Night at the show. Many people from the town including their Mayor were in attendance. Before revealing the storyline, just a reminder: the legendary rock band Bon Jovi came from Sayreville. That fact has a tiny bit to do with the story, but only a tiny bit. Okay, let’s move on!
The storyline involves a stockbroker living in Manhattan who has just turned 40 and who just so happens to get fired. He is forced to return to his old home which is at Garden State Parkway Exit 124, Sayreville, NJ, to live with his mother in their old house. As he returns, word gets out to his boyhood rival. His rival now owns and controls most of the town and is a kind of meany in town. But word also gets out to some of his old pals including a BFF right across the way from his home. After a series of incidents, they decide to put the band back together and take on the Battle of the Bands with their old rival band, yes, you guessed, the meany of the town’s band.
The story of how people who were once band mates and now a doctor, a police officer, and a teacher takes center stage as each also takes a look at their lives and how well they have carried out the dreams of their youth. But it’s all done in a fun filled fashion; no heavy drama here. And there’s lots of living happily ever after which can be a darn good thing to see in this day and age.
But we digress which is not good at this point because here are a few photos from the show which show scenes from the Battle of the Bands. First, the good guys’ band: (cue big applause)
Now the bad boys band: (cue a few boos – not really as this performance was good too!)
The laughs are plentiful throughout the show. The music has a rock edge to it, and there are some fine ballads that even out the score. High marks go to the lighting for the emphasis on the rock star aspect of the show including a moment where the band appears to be running on stage in slow motion as if in a movie. There are lots of side plots and plenty of life changing issues get resolved. The Battle of the Bands in Act Two alone is worth the price of admission for its music and twist of events.
This show has some heavy hitters on the creative side of the house. Ken Davenport, a co-conceiver of Altar Boyz and The Awesome 80’s Prom wrote the book for the show along with a group of performers and writers called The Grundleshotz who helped develop the show through a series of improvisational rehearsals. Mark Allen, a composer/lyricist, songwriter and arranger and 2009 recipient of the American Theatre Wing Jonathan Larson Grant wrote the music and lyrics. Kelly Devine, known for her work in many shows including Broadway’s Rock of Ages is the choreographer. The show’s director is John Rando whose most recent Broadway credits include A Christmas Story and The Wedding Singer.
The cast is outstanding. They sing, they dance, they provide loads of comical moments. They get the audience laughing, clapping to the music, and make you feel like you actually in the audience at the Battle of the Bands. Special shout out goes to Mitchell Jarvis who plays the lead character, Mitch Martino, whose voice and comedic timing are terrific. Brandon Williams delivers bad man Tygen Billows with good dry humor and Jay Klaitz is hilarious as Mitch’s band mate and bff Bart Vickers.
You might want to get in to see this show while it is still in Jersey because this could possibly cross the river and go into New York at some point. Visit this page of the George Street Playhouse website, www.georgestreetplayhouse.org for tickets and more information. Gettin’ the Band Back Together is scheduled to run through October 27, 2013.
The Paper Mill Playhouse began their 75th Anniversary season this past week with the show Honeymoon in Vegas. The show, which is based off the movie with the same title, is actually premiering at the New Jersey theater which also gave Newsies its start. I don’t think it would be gambling to say that I think this show is a real winner. It has good music, a tremendous cast, very clever staging and special effects. To sum it all up, it’s a show that combines humor with a heart warming message in an audience-friendly package.
