Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: New Jersey

Date of a Lifetime: Light and Amusing Musical for Two
New Jersey Repertory Company

Also see Bob's reviews of Working and Pinkolandia


Trisha Rapier and Jamie LaVerdiere
Date of a Lifetime is an amusing, joke-filled 90 minute, one-act musical for two performers which provides pleasant revue style entertainment. It is particularly suitable for couples on dates for whom it will provide beaucoup fodder for discussion. Thus, this musical is an antidote for those awkward dating moments which occur when either one or both have difficulty in coming up with something to say.

The setting is a facility where single men and women are participating in a "Rotate-A-Date" session of Rotating Speed Dates in a basement recreation room at Symphony Space on Manhattan's upper West Side. Every "date" lasts a total of eight minutes at the expiration of which each participant rotates to a new dating partner. This eliminates the need to waste an entire evening on a date with an incompatible individual.

At the beginning of this musical, James LaVerdiere and Trisha Rapier perform a series of cameos in which each plays about a half dozen speed daters. All are distinctive and display traits and attitudes which reflect off-putting individuals which every one of us has encountered in others, and get Lifetime off to fast and delightful start. Of course, none of us are ever like these cretins. Of course not.

Thereinafter, LaVerdiere plays 40-year-old Marvin, and Rapier the slightly younger Katie. Both are highly skeptical about any possibility of an affirmative outcome. Katie is particularly afraid of commitment, whereas Marvin is clever and glib, and appears capable of winning over a woman when inclined to do so (as he is here).

Marvin proposes that each take four minutes of their eight-minute "date" to sell his or her self to the other. Marvin goes first and uses his time ot paint a picture of how he envisions their live together will be. If one were to take it seriously, Marvin's imagination of the future is that of a depressive personality. His preview of their future includes dating; moving in together; she seeking a commitment from him; his proposal; a honeymoon in Las Vegas; having a baby; more babies; she having an affair; their separation; dealing with (ugh) lawyers; reconciliation; growing old together bitterly; her death; his sadness at losing her; and his looking back happily at their time together. As told largely through song and comedy routines, this four minute summary of a lifetime consumes 40 minutes on the stage.

Lo and behold, when the time comes for her four-minute pitch, Katie also chooses to present her vision of what their future together would bring. Her comic litany is as long as Marvin's, and concludes even more ironically with divorce, marriages to others (his second wife dies/ her husband gets Alzheimer's), and her visiting him in his assisted living facility and reminding him that she loved him the most.

As you may have already noted, Marvin and Katie share a skepticism and wry sense of humor. However, it may not be enough to overcome Katie's extreme fear of commitment and relationship.

The basis for this full-length musical was a three-minute comic monologue that was written and perform by Carl Kissin, a former member of Chicago City Limits, who has provided the book and lyrics. Robert Baumgartner, Jr. has written the lively contemporary pop music which pleasantly supports Kissin's lyrics.

The delightful performances of Jamie LaVerdiere and Trisha Rapier enrich the material. Although he is not hopeful about the Rotate-a-Date evening, LaVerdiere's Marvin displays the style, self-confidence and swaggering good looks to sell himself to both Katie and the viewing audience. Rapier's Kate is very funny and appealing as she obscures her neurotic lack of confidence with sardonic humor.

Director-choreographer Marlo Hunter maintains an appropriate tone and lively pace throughout. Musical director/pianist Daniel Rein provides sharp musical accompaniment and gets to participate in a scene to good comedic effect. Jessica Parks' set features a delightful series of digital projections (mostly stills, but occasionally in motion) of locations throughout New York City. The in-motion, digitally projected Coney Island roller coaster ride is particularly effective.

In addition to being suitable for intimate theatres such as the New Jersey Rep where it now in performance, Date of a Lifetime would be a good vehicle to showcase musical stage actors in cabaret rooms such as Manhattan's 54 Below.

Date of a Lifetime continues performances (Evenings: Thursday-Saturday 8 pm/ Sunday 7 pm/ Matinees: Saturday 3 pm/ Sunday 2 pm) through April 6, 2014, at the New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740; box office: 732-229-3166; online: www.njrep.org.

Date of a Lifetime Book and Lyrics by Carl Kissin; Music by Robert Baumgartner, Jr.; Directed by Marlo Hunter

Cast
Marvin………….James LaVerdiere
Kate…………………..Trisha Rapier


Photo: SuzAnne Barabas


- Bob Rendell