What I liked
Zachary Bernstein has a knack for bringing to life quirky, likeable characters, writing catchy songs and populating his casts with uber-talented actors who know how to pull off the tone he sets for his plays. Earth to Karen is no exception. Dagny Kerr is engaging and relate-able as the titular Karen, a disgraced astronaut looking for a fresh start. Matthew Bohrer, has the unenviable job of portraying “Chet”. Chet is an idealistic but naive would-be sandwich mogul. It would be very easy to simply play him as ‘dumb’, but Bohrer invests Chet with a warmth and humanity which effectively counter his glaring blind-spots when it comes to judging other people’s motives
Rebecca Larsen and Lauren Van Kurin in multiple roles are both a sheer delight to watch. Each commits fully to their roles maximizing their comedic potential.
Bernstein leads a robust 3-piece band to support the evening’s musical proceedings. Kudos as well to director Guy Picot and choreo Sarah Kruger for bringing the best out of the cast and making the most of the tiny Broadwater Blackbox space.
What I didn't like
Maybe one song was keyed a bit low in actor Dagny Kerr’s register. But, that’s not enough to dim my overall enjoyment of this show.
My overall impression
An amusing romp through the worlds of astronauts and retail sandwiches.
