Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul

Calvin Berger
Minneapolis Musical Theatre

Also see Arthur's review of Gertrude Stein and a Companion


Logan Greene and Gregory Adam
Calvin Berger is a small-scale musical loosely based on Cyrano de Bergerac now receiving its area premiere in an energetic and engaging production by Minneapolis Musical Theatre. The show relocates its protagonist from 19th century France to an American high school, circa now. Moreover, it changes the protagonist from the uber-size nosed Cyrano to the perfectly normal size nosed Calvin. The conceit is that Calvin perceives his nose as being huge—it is slightly long in shape, but not to any degree that calls attention to itself—in the way that all teenagers self-consciously obsess about one perceived flaw.

Small it is: the show has only four characters, no dancing, and a single setting that serves as several locales. The score effectively reflects on characters' feelings and situations, but is not particularly memorable. The book is peppered with great laugh lines, but unspools in a fairly predictable way. That all said, Calvin Berger is a really good time. The show is a lighthearted confection with a dollop of sentiment, and the four talented actors work their tails off to make sure we leave the theater feeling entertained.

Borrowing the bones of Cyrano's plot, 17-year-old Calvin is known as the smartest student at his high school, a nerd's nerd. He pines for the beautiful and outgoing Rosanna, believing that she is totally out of his league, for which he blames his nose. Rosanna is enthralled with a new boy at school, Matt, who is handsome and well built, but develops terminal cotton-mouth around girls. He is likewise taken with Rosanna, but unable to utter two words to her. Calvin conceives a plan to help Matt by providing poetic words to win Rosanna's heart. Calvin, Rosanna and Matt are our high school stand-ins for Cyrano, Roxanne and Christian.

A fourth character added to this trio changes the Cyrano dynamic considerably. Bret is Cyrano's long-time best friend, but she yearns for their relationship to go beyond the "friend zone." Though Bret shares with Calvin a sharp intellect and quick wit, she dresses in a tom-boy wardrobe with a ubiquitous jeans jacket, and does not fuss with her hair or makeup. Calvin looks right past Bret's obvious devotion to him, never seeing more than a gal pal.

Over the course of two fast-paced acts, the tangled web of longing and insecurity spins out, as friendships are formed, broken, and re-kindled. The resolution takes place at a Bachelor Auction fundraiser for Rosanna's pet charity in support of homeless babies. (Sample joke: When Rosanna wails that there are actually babies out on the streets, Matt responds "That's terrible! Where are we supposed to drive?") The end is never in doubt, but it is fun guessing how these four will straighten out the mess they have made of things and smilingly reach the finale.

The shift in focus from one who nobly endures in spite of a real impediment to romance—Cyrano's nose—to four who overcome their unfounded insecurities in order to make connections, makes Calvin Berger relatable to most anyone. Who has not at some point—most likely in the teen years—felt the weight of a glaring flaw that barred the way to happiness, even if that flaw existed only in their minds? And who has not been so obsessed with their feelings that they fail to see the feelings of those who care for them? In real life these episodes of teen angst do not always work out as happily as in Calvin's world, but the show offers the hope that such happy endings are possible.

One reason we buy into the far-fetched storyline is the conviction and likability each of the four actors bring to the occasion. Gregory Adam as Calvin is the epitome of a brainiac, self-absorbed and dumb in matters of the heart; Emily Madigan's Rosanna is bubbly, a bit ditzy, flirty without trying to be, but with a good and innocent heart. Logan Greene's Matt is a bonafide lunk, big and self-confident except in matters of the opposite sex, and dumb enough to fall prey to Calvin's scheming. As Bret, Kecia Rehkamp makes a particularly strong impression. As the classic wise-cracking gal pal hiding her breaking heart beneath a crust of jokey cynicism, Rehkamp imbues her character with the greatest resemblance to real life.

While none of the four performers excel in the vocal department, they deliver the songs with clarity and in-character. Truth be told, the score is not strong enough for A-level singing to be a requirement. A few numbers stand out. The opening, "Security Meltdown," has each of the characters revealing the source of their personal angst—Calvin's nose, Bret's plus-sized bottom, Rosanna's fear that boys only like her for her looks, and Matt's fear of talking to girls—mapping the course of everything that follows. "We're the Man" cleverly builds the partnership by which Calvin's words and Matt's good looks will woo Rosanna, and "Saturday Alone" reveals the tender and hurting side of Bret's heart.

Director Joshua James Campbell keeps things moving swiftly, and maintains a light, eye-winking atmosphere that allows us to enjoy the show while the message of self-acceptance seeps in. Darren Hensel's set provides a great backdrop for Calvin Berger's antics to play out. A high school hallway of depression era vintage, it is cleverly decorated with posters promoting such unlikely school activities as an Origami Team and auditions for a student production of Equus. Lori Maxwell's costumes capture each character's persona while being true to the look of 2015 high school styles.

Calvin Berger is not a great musical by any stretch, but it is sweet and breezy, with laughs, heart, and a ring of truth. You are likely to leave impressed by the talent on stage, satisfied by an evening of modest entertainment, and perhaps a bit more at peace with your own real or imagined flaws.

Calvin Berger is a Minneapolis Musical Theatre production presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust. It continues through February 15, 2015, at the New Century Theatre, 615 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. Tickets: $25.00 - $30.00, Student tickets: $20.00 with valid ID. For tickets call 612-455-9525 or go to www.hennepintheatretrust.org/events

Book, Music & Lyrics: Barry Wyner; Director: Joshua James Campbell; Original Director: Kathleen Marshall; Orchestrations: Doug Besterman; Scene change music arrangements: Aron Accurso; Music Director and Costumer: Lori Maxwell; Set Designer: Darren Hensel; Lighting Designer: Grant E. Merges; Sound Designer: Jordan Daoust; Properties Master: Jane Ryan; Stage Manager: Jesse Storovich; Assistant Stage Manager: Haley Pelissier Walsh

Cast: Gregory Adam (Calvin), Logan Greene (Matt), Emily Madigan (Rosanna), Kecia Rehkamp (Bret)


Photo: Heidi Bohnenkamp


- Arthur Dorman


Also see the season schedule for the Minneapolis - St. Paul region