![]() ![]() ![]() Rose Pederson's costumes adroitly interweave new pieces with cannily recycled items from shows that Village has done in the past, and the lighting design by Aaron Copp is generally and suitably eye-popping. The technicolor sets by Christopher Mumaw look like a million bucks and convey the illusion that we are seeing the show in a Broadway-size musical house. Cook, and Paul Flanagan, who have astound me in the many shows I've seen them in, whether in lead, supporting or ensemble roles. ![]() The ensemble cast members all play multiple roles and are irrepressible and irreplaceable, with a special nod to Nick DeSantis, Greg McCormick-Allen, Mallory King, Sarah Russell, Richard Peacock, Kate. The team of Kooman and Diamond cleverly spoof the words and music of many Broadway legends, but their most memorable is a sweet, tender charm song "Can't Keep It In," which would probably become a standard if anybody recorded such throwbacks to the golden age of musicals anymore. Tancioco, and especially choreographer Al Blackstone, who has the cast dancing every style from de Mille to Robbins to Bennett, have delivered the goods and then some. #NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES FULL#the show is stopped cold by an unsatisfying plot twist that requires the full cast jump into high octane mode plus reel the audience back in with razzle dazzle.ĭirector Brandon Ivie, musical director R.J. The latter, played with relish, ketchup, mustard and everything including the sink by inimitable veteran farceur Jeff Steitzer, is the key to Howard's happily ever after. Maggie determines to help Howard discover what's happened to him, which leads them to a recurring phantom figure who is revealed as the daunting theater god Von Schwartzenheim. Then, poof! Everyone knocking at his door, at his office, at the stadium, and in the pub are coming at him with a song in their heart and on their lips. Howard Barnes, played with everyman charm and a lilting voice by Seattle stalwart Joshua Carter, works a dead-end office job, pals around with a lame office buddy/sports fan (a deliciously doltish John Michael Scott), and somehow manages to ignore Maggie (the triple-threat Taryn Darr), the new hire in the cube next door, as he mopes over his ex, Grace (a sassy saucy belter named Jasmine Jean Sim), whom he seems to hold accountable for all his woes. But it hit a road bump when the show's "big reveal" stopped the show, and that road bump still exists, despite a tried and true happy ending and a big finish. Having seen the work through all three incarnations I can honestly say this tale of an average Joe who wakes to find himself trapped in a sort of "Twilight Zone" musical comedy existence that I loved when I first saw it, and frankly didn't feel it needed so much development. IF YOU PREFER TO SEE THIS PRODUCTION LIVE, PLEASE CLICK THE TICKETS LINK ABOVE AND CHOOSE THE LIVE PERFORMANCE TICKETS.Composer Michael Kooman and librettist/lyricist Christopher Dimond's original musical The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is an amiable, jovial, clever piece that Village Theatre has nurtured for about seven years, starting with a barebones reading in the company's summer festival, followed by a developmental production about two years ago, and now in a world premiere full production launching. YOU HAVE CHOSEN STREAMING TICKETS! PLEASE NOTE THESE PERFORMANCES ARE NOT ON-DEMAND AND WILL BE STREAMED IN TANDEM WITH THE LIVE PERFORMANCES AT THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING. ![]() Equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and broadway (but not broadway) American musical, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes is intended for people who love musical theater, and their loved ones who probably hate it. Desperate to escape from the show of his life (literally), Howard embarks on a fantastical quest through the realm of musical theater to get his boring, un-musical life back again. What would YOU do if you woke up to find your entire life thrown into a comedic, book-driven, commercial (but with artistry), highbrow, low budget, modern (but traditional) original American musical? Meet Howard Barnes, a perfectly average man.at least until the day that he wakes up to discover that his life has become a musical. ![]()
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