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‘Breakup Notebook’ at Beck is off-the-wall fun
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Reviewed by: FRAN HELLER Contributing Writer
Anyone who has ever been in a romantic relationship knows that breaking up is never easy.
In the witty and delightfully entertaining new musical comedy “The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical,” the couple on the brink of separating may be gay, but the emotional fallout is a universal experience. The Ohio première of “Breakup” is at The Beck Center for the Arts through March 22.
Cleveland audiences are privy to this show before a potential make-or-break New York opening. Written by Patricia Cotter with music and lyrics by Cleveland native Lori Scarlett and additional music by David Manning, “The Breakup Notebook” received the 2006 L.A. Ovation Award for Best New Musical. It also enjoyed a rave reception at the Festivals for New Musicals in New York City in 2007.
The Cleveland production, snappily directed by Victoria Bussert, bubbles over like newly uncorked champagne. The show, which continues to be reworked and refined, has off-Broadway written all over it. It’s fresh, funny, and off-the-wall; a feel-good entertainment.
The musical is really a coming-of-age story about educating Helen, a 30-something lesbian who has just been dumped by her cheating girlfriend. While Helen wallows in anger, self-pity and low self-esteem, her well- intentioned friends try to fix her up with a succession of awful dates. What Helen learns, and what every mature woman knows, is that it’s better to be alone than in bad company.
Russ Borski’s comic-book setting resembling cartoon blowups by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is a gasser. Indeed, the entire show smacks of the 1950s comic strip “Archie” and his girl trouble; only this time the clashing couples in question are all female. Costumes from black leather and Bermuda shorts to hokey Western and garish Hawaiian are yummy.
Cotter’s book, originally a play, is witty and fast-moving. Scarlett’s lively score, a combination of pop, rock and doo-wop, pleases the ear with lyrics that are equally clever and cute. Song and story mesh seamlessly.
The cast is a singular sensation, beginning with the irrepressible Jodi Dominick as Helen pining over her ex. Helen sleeps in her ex’s dress, while she moons over the breakup in “Ghost of My Ex-Girlfriend.”
Dominick’s stringy hair, expressive “plain-Jane” face, gangly frame, and nonstop motion make the character of Helen very real. What the actress lacks in vocal range, she more than compensates for with her comic acting.
Eric Van Baars is a riot as Helen’s gay friend Bob. Their duet, “Barnacle of Love,” in which Bob tries to urge Helen to get on with her life, is terrific. The ensemble, dressed in white shirts, ties and jeans, serve as backup chorus to hilarious effect. Martin Céspedes’s endlessly creative choreography charms in this number and throughout.
Alison Garrigan is terrific as Sheila, a self-proclaimed “bisexual” attorney who admits she hasn’t dated a guy since ninth grade.
One of the funniest scenes occurs when Helen calls her disapproving mom (a droll Garrigan) to tell her she has broken up with her girlfriend. Mom, a Catholic, thinks a miracle has happened and that her daughter is no longer gay. Van Baars is equally humorous as Helen’s working-class dad.
Versatile Tracee Patterson continues to astonish, this time as the husky-voiced, “hot” Frances, a biker who is Helen’s new flame. Frances falls for Helen, but the two have different ideas about love in “What Do You Want From Me?/Your Way of Loving.”
Butch Monica (Devon Yates) and femme Joanie (Libby Servais) are in the throes of planning their commitment ceremony. Their poignant duet, “Lucky, Lucky Me,” in which they take their vows, is the show’s most moving song.
Kayce Cummings plays an S&M go-go dancer, the new girlfriend who turns out to be quite likeable, and a tennis camp counselor with a speech impediment who was teenage Helen’s first crush. Kim Godfrey is fine as the ex-girlfriend and in other roles.
Perched on a platform above the stage, music director Matthew Webb and orchestra remain an integral part of the show, in which music, story and song ripple merrily along.
“The Breakup Notebook” may be queer theater, but it’s for everyone, straight or gay.
Adult themes. Recommended for mature audiences only.
WHAT:
“The Breakup Notebook”
WHERE: The Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
TICKETS: 216-521-2540 or www.beckcenter.org
Anyone who has ever been in a romantic relationship knows that breaking up is never easy.
In the witty and delightfully entertaining new musical comedy “The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical,” the couple on the brink of separating may be gay, but the emotional fallout is a universal experience. The Ohio première of “Breakup” is at The Beck Center for the Arts through March 22.
Cleveland audiences are privy to this show before a potential make-or-break New York opening. Written by Patricia Cotter with music and lyrics by Cleveland native Lori Scarlett and additional music by David Manning, “The Breakup Notebook” received the 2006 L.A. Ovation Award for Best New Musical. It also enjoyed a rave reception at the Festivals for New Musicals in New York City in 2007.
The Cleveland production, snappily directed by Victoria Bussert, bubbles over like newly uncorked champagne. The show, which continues to be reworked and refined, has off-Broadway written all over it. It’s fresh, funny, and off-the-wall; a feel-good entertainment.
The musical is really a coming-of-age story about educating Helen, a 30-something lesbian who has just been dumped by her cheating girlfriend. While Helen wallows in anger, self-pity and low self-esteem, her well- intentioned friends try to fix her up with a succession of awful dates. What Helen learns, and what every mature woman knows, is that it’s better to be alone than in bad company.
Russ Borski’s comic-book setting resembling cartoon blowups by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is a gasser. Indeed, the entire show smacks of the 1950s comic strip “Archie” and his girl trouble; only this time the clashing couples in question are all female. Costumes from black leather and Bermuda shorts to hokey Western and garish Hawaiian are yummy.
Cotter’s book, originally a play, is witty and fast-moving. Scarlett’s lively score, a combination of pop, rock and doo-wop, pleases the ear with lyrics that are equally clever and cute. Song and story mesh seamlessly.
The cast is a singular sensation, beginning with the irrepressible Jodi Dominick as Helen pining over her ex. Helen sleeps in her ex’s dress, while she moons over the breakup in “Ghost of My Ex-Girlfriend.”
Dominick’s stringy hair, expressive “plain-Jane” face, gangly frame, and nonstop motion make the character of Helen very real. What the actress lacks in vocal range, she more than compensates for with her comic acting.
Eric Van Baars is a riot as Helen’s gay friend Bob. Their duet, “Barnacle of Love,” in which Bob tries to urge Helen to get on with her life, is terrific. The ensemble, dressed in white shirts, ties and jeans, serve as backup chorus to hilarious effect. Martin Céspedes’s endlessly creative choreography charms in this number and throughout.
Alison Garrigan is terrific as Sheila, a self-proclaimed “bisexual” attorney who admits she hasn’t dated a guy since ninth grade.
One of the funniest scenes occurs when Helen calls her disapproving mom (a droll Garrigan) to tell her she has broken up with her girlfriend. Mom, a Catholic, thinks a miracle has happened and that her daughter is no longer gay. Van Baars is equally humorous as Helen’s working-class dad.
Versatile Tracee Patterson continues to astonish, this time as the husky-voiced, “hot” Frances, a biker who is Helen’s new flame. Frances falls for Helen, but the two have different ideas about love in “What Do You Want From Me?/Your Way of Loving.”
Butch Monica (Devon Yates) and femme Joanie (Libby Servais) are in the throes of planning their commitment ceremony. Their poignant duet, “Lucky, Lucky Me,” in which they take their vows, is the show’s most moving song.
Kayce Cummings plays an S&M go-go dancer, the new girlfriend who turns out to be quite likeable, and a tennis camp counselor with a speech impediment who was teenage Helen’s first crush. Kim Godfrey is fine as the ex-girlfriend and in other roles.
Perched on a platform above the stage, music director Matthew Webb and orchestra remain an integral part of the show, in which music, story and song ripple merrily along.
“The Breakup Notebook” may be queer theater, but it’s for everyone, straight or gay.
Adult themes. Recommended for mature audiences only.
WHAT:
“The Breakup Notebook”
WHERE: The Beck Center, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
TICKETS: 216-521-2540 or www.beckcenter.org
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