Moonbox is one
of those bright, new companies on the scene whose work is so satisfying that
you look forward to their next production. And they set themselves apart with a
mission to connect communities to the nonprofit organizations that serve them.
Last time they introduced the audience to a teen empowerment program. This time
out, they’re sponsoring an alliance between schools and local farms. Fresh
veggies and fruits in the cafeterias and prosperity for local growers: What
could be better!
Their last
production, OF MICE AND MEN, was exceptional, as this one, A NEW BRAIN, will be
once they correct a sound imbalance. What I heard, I loved but some of the
lyrics were drowned out by the orchestra at full volume. As long as they played
pianissimo, you could make out William Finn’s fabulous lyrics – and you don’t
want to miss one cheeky word of A NEW BRAIN (playing at the BCA through next
week).
Director Allison
Olivia Choat (an up-and-comer) has a stellar cast to inhabit Finn and James
Lapine’s “wacky world of children’s television meets life and death surgery.”
Poor Gordon Schwinn (a winning Tom Shoemaker). He toils day and night writing
songs for a demanding frog (the funny Matthew Zahnzinger) until he swoons into
his salad, at lunch with gal pal Rhoda (the luminous Shonna Cirone). Finn
writes what he knows, having survived an arterio-venous malformation himself.
Gordon is off to
surgery, sending his mother (the inimitable Shana Dirik) into a tizzy (and a
couple of sensational songs), not to mention the worry his lover (the handsome
Ross E. Brown) is in for. Comic turns abound: David Carney is a maniacal
surgeon, followed closely by Peter Mill as a goofy man of the cloth, not to
mention the formidable nurses. Allison Russell is a powerhouse of efficiency
and Aaron Michael Ray is “the good nurse” who delivers on the hilarious “Poor,
Unsuccessful and Fat.” Lori L’Italien rounds out the cast as the homeless lady
who wants “Change.” Rachel Bertone choreographs the ensemble (and some
versatile chairs).
Once music
director Dan Rodriguez and company figure out where the dead spots are, A NEW
BRAIN will be grooving. It’s not brain surgery. Well, maybe it is brain surgery
– but I’ll bet they can fix it.