Strong performances buried under clichéd story
Chicago Muse presents |
The Story of My Life |
Music/Lyrics by Neil Bartram Book by Brian Hill Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln (map) through January 2 | tickets: $46-$56 | more info |
Reviewed by Oliver Sava
The inaugural production of new company Chicago Muse, The Story of My Life was voted the best new musical of twelve read by a committee of theater patrons and professionals. Walking out of the Biograph Theater, I couldn’t help but wonder what those other shows were, that they couldn’t beat Bartram and Hill’s uninspired musical. Chronicling the friendship between recently deceased Alvin (Davis Duffield) and his estranged best friend Thomas (Jack Noseworthy), The Story of My Life tries to fit as many clichés as possible in its 90 minute running time.
The conflict of the latter half is basically the two falling out of touch because Thomas avoids Alvin, which doesn’t translate to very compelling theater yet takes up a large chunk of time. By the time Thomas finally realizes Alvin was his inspiration all along, which the audience knew five minutes into the show, the production has already lost most of its momentum, despite the efforts of its talented stars.
Both the story and music of The Story of My Life owe much to Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along and Sunday in the Park with George. Merrily’s theme of friends and their influence on an individual’s creative growth is combined with Sunday’s meditations on the limits artists place on themselves, and both shows’ musical themes are reflected in Bartram’s score. The general lack of originality drags down the show, even though.Duffield and Noseworthy are capable performers, with Noseworthy hitting some particularly difficult notes with fantastic clarity and power. They try their hardest to make their characters realistic, but the source material’s flaws overcome their respective efforts. While the two actors never miss a beat, the beats are so derivative that, unfortunately, their talent is wasted.
Rating: ★★ |
Extra Credit:
- Listen to music from the show
- Check out Chris Jones’ article about acclaimed composer (and musical director) Richard Maltby Jr.
- The Story of My Life’s Facebook page
Filed under: 2010 Reviews, Biograph Theatre, Oliver Sava, Victory Gardens | Tagged: Brian Hill, Chicago Muse, Davis Duffield, Jack Noseworthy, Neil Bartram, Oliver Sava, Richard Maltby Jr, Stephen Sondheim, The Story of My Life, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater | 1 Comment »