What I liked
What’s distinct about this show is the intermixture of an almost naively sweet musical inner story with a framing device grounded in too-familiar medical reality. Neither layer would be memorable on its own, but the interrelationship of the two is unexpectedly poignant. We start to see the golden age musical not as escapism but idealism, a snapshot of the passions of youth blended with an innocence that actual youth rarely has. As the double play moves forward, musical theater is portrayed us as something that sustains us through life’s hardest difficulties.
There is actually a third layer – knowing that this story of musical-theater-as-therapy is itself drawn from the author’s own life. While that knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoy the show, it does enrich the experience.
What I didn't like
The venue has a distinct slapback echo; extra concentration is sometimes required to make out dialogue and lyrics.
My overall impression
This layered and utterly sincere show intermixes sweet and bitter to create a surprisingly powerful emotional impact.
