Title of Review – a review of [Title of Show]

By Michael Buzzelli

I’m sitting in the theater watching Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen’s [Title of Show], and I am wondering if the review can be as meta as the actual show. I think, “I can’t insert myself into the review. That goes against the journalistic AP style I grew up with,” but I decide, “Fuck it. I’m going for it.”

I write a review in three parts: I provide a teaser synopsis without spoilers. I then describe the talent involved, actors, set designers, lighting designers, musical directors, choreographers, directors, etc. Then, I close with a summary paragraph.

Let’s get started:

As I’m sitting there, watching actors playing Hunter (Jake Froelich) and Jeff (Noah Kendall) come out on stage and talk about writing a musical for the New York Musical Theater Festival. As they riff on possible ideas, they decide that this should be the show. The duo is actually using their lives to write the show as the show. It’s the George Constanza moment, “This! This should be the show!”

I get to write about how Heidi (Chelsea Davis) and Susan (Rebekah Hukill) show up and help them create the show that doesn’t have a title, until the foursome are filling out the submission form, when they have to list the title of the show. Hunter and Jeff decide that the title of the show should be [Title of Show].

Meta meets meta, and my mind is blown watching the actors dance and sing on stage. Things get crazier and crazier as they narrate their lives with scenes, songs, and dance.

This is the part where I write about the actors:

The four stars of the show are fantastic.

Froelich gives a tremendous performance as Hunter. He fully commits to the role, having to bare his soul… and his chest. The real Hunter Bell exposes some of his darker impulses, and Froelich plays the scenes with such honesty that it’s almost hard to watch when he decimates his friends during a photo shoot.

Kendall, who has been praised for his performances before at ‘Burgh Vivant (inside joke inside the show and now inside the review). It was no surprise that he nailed the role of Jeff Bowen.

Hukill is delightful as Susan. She plays the harried part-time actor who has let her day job take over her life with such sincerity.

Davis is charismatic in the role of Heidi. She has total Heidi energy (ebullient, bubbly, and a joy to watch).

Now, I come to the part where I discuss other pertinent points; things with the construction of the set by Jamie McDonald and Jamie Brunner, or the costumes by Randi Ippolito and Dana Schulte (I enjoyed seeing Kendall’s classic Justice League T-shirt, since Jeff Bowen is a comic book collector and avid Wonder Woman fan).

Travis Rigby is the musical director and the character of the musical director, Terry. There are some great sympathetic moments for the character, the fifth wheel in the story. They do a great job with a few lines, and the music is superb.

Then, I say something about the director and the choreographer. Caitlin Dobronz does a fantastic job getting the actors to immerse themselves in the roles.

I usually close with a summary of the show. This show is pure gay joy. It’s also for everyone and anyone who wants to get in touch with their creative side. Everyone who has to kill their vampires – those inner critics that try to take you down when you create anything, a play, a song, a painting, or even a theater review. This is a must-see show.

I run a check with Grammarly before posting, since I’m my own editor. If there are any mistakes, someone will let me know and I’ll fix them. Trust me, I made a major mistake in my “The Tragedy of Richard II” earlier today and the director reached out to me to get it fixed ASAP.

Case in point:  I had forgotten to credit the photography, but I have revised it.

I close with my initials, and below that, in italics, I will post the details on how to get tickets. I can’t stress this enough… get tickets!

-MB

[Title of Show] runs until March 28 at the Three Stories Theatre, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information or tickets, click here.