Motherhood, the Musical...

by Sue Fabisch

Jaeb Theater

Tampa, FL

June 9th, 2011

They say motherhood is the toughest job. What if you were to put those ideas into a show?

The David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts brings Motherhood the Musical to the Jaeb Theater. Nestled in the shadows of the enormous Morsani Hall, the Jaeb Theater presents the show in the cabaret styled playhouse without any bad seats.

Motherhood the Musical tells the story of three mothers and one mother-to-be at a baby shower as they lament the highs and lows of being a mother. Each mother offers advice through song about their various experiences in motherhood. Ranging from sleep deprivation, shopping in bulk, spousal relations, urinary incontinence and everything in between, the other mothers fill us as well as the mother to be in what is about become.

Cast in this musical of the hardest job in life is Jayne Trinette, Angela Bond, Becca McCoy and Juliana Black. The talent level of the actresses on stage is as strong as I've come to expect from Equity actors in the area. With that being said, I felt the show was written in such a way to force the actors to perform a certain and didn't allow for the free-flow that gives most shows the realism that goes above what's happening on stage.

Jayne Trinette's "Every Other Weekend" was a nice moment among the fluff. Juliana Black's ability to play the naive mother-to-be and change into the grandmother, although campy, was seamless and well executed. Becca McCoy's over the top portrayal as the overworked, Costco shopper was performed adequately with the best conviction that the script can allow. The best moment of the show was Angela Bond's "I'm Danny's Mom". Devoid of any theatrics, Bond's words alone encapsulate the show's spirit of being a mother.

The Cast of Motherhood the Musical

l to r: Jayne Trinette, Angela Bond, Juliana Back and Becca McCoy

All in all, I didn't care for Motherhood the Musical. With the exception of "I'm Danny's Mom" and "Every Other Weekend", I thought the songs were cheesy and performed mainly for cheap laughs. I wish I could say this show hovered around clever or satirical, but it landed far from it. Most of the songs ended with some sort of jazz hands or another musical theatre cliche that took away from the song itself and kept me from enjoying the show. Since the show seems to be aimed for the simpleton crowd, I would not recommend this show for those hoping for an uplifting or inspiring show.

Motherhood the Musical plays the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center through July 10th. For more information about the show or the Straz Center please click here. Don't forget to follow us on twitter and/or facebook for the latest on the performing arts community in Tampa.

Music of the Post - The Book of Mormon Cast Album

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune...

by Terrance McNally

American Stage Theater Company

St. Petersburg, FL

June 2nd, 2011

They say that men know within the first twenty seconds of meeting if they are in love with the other person. Why not make it marriage and kids while you're at it...

American Stage Theater Company, located in downtown St. Petersburg, brings this timeless story of love and haste to the Raymond James Theatre with well designed sets and precise acting. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune chronicles the postcoital conversation of two middle-aged New Yorkers. Set in real time over the course of one evening, Frankie and Johnny verbally combat the notions of life, love and question if their is a happily ever after.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune begins as our eponymous characters conclude their wild and intimate evening. Nestled comfortably in their sea of blankets, harmless pillow talk elevates from what just happened to what could happen in the future. Convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has found his soul mate, Johnny emphatically emotes his feelings upon Frankie. Visibly shaken from a prior relationship, Frankie is not as assured of their ever after. Bouncing from sweet nothings to full on tongue-lashings, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune is just as up and down as a real relationship can be sometimes.

Poised in the on-stage battle of wits, American Stage cast two wonderful actors that blurred the line of acting and pretending very well. Tonia Jackson and Tom Nowicki both brought their A-game as well as an unyielding manner to their respective arguments. Nowicki's persistent, if not annoying, characterization of Johnny at first seemed unwarranted and creepy for lack of a better word. Yet, if perseverance is the hallmark of a champion, Nowicki's Johnny won the audience over just as he did Frankie. Jackson's portrayal of Frankie was tastefully done as she played her cards close to the vest not willing to completely give in to Johnny's outlandish requests. Slowly unfolding her character, over the course of the evening, we fall in love just like Johnny. Bravo.

As well as the players on stage performed, I found the narrative itself wandering aimlessly much like an actual argument between genders. One second, all is well, that is until one person says something that sets the other on edge. At first I didn't care for the "will they/won't they" direction of the show, but didn't mind after I remembered it's how most domestic arguments go.

In talking with director Bari Newport, I asked her about the challenge of working with two actors as opposed to a larger cast, "It's kind of a strange paradox, because you can imagine that with two people doing a play that is two hours total, that's a lot of weight on two people. You want two people who are compatible with each other and we cast a woman I admired for a long time in Atlanta Tonia Jackson, and we cast Tom Nowicki who probably well known all over Florida, but all over the country too for his film and TV work." Listening to Newport continue on about the prowess of the two actors was proof positive of the level of quality American Stage brings together.

All in all I enjoyed Frankie and Johnny at American Stage. I would recommend this production for those looking for a great evening of theatre. The calibre of acting is at the top of the class for the area and it has some of the best set design I've seen outside of a Broadway production.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune plays through July 3rd at the Raymond James Theatre in Downtown St. Petersburg. For more information of the show and American Stage, click here. Be advised that this show contains mature situations and brief nudity. Don't forget to follow us on twitter and/or facebook for the latest on the performing arts community in Tampa.

Music of the Post - the moon is down by chris carrabba