JOHN & JEN

730pm, Friday, May 30
730pm, Saturday, May 31
230pm, Sunday, June 1

The Green Room Theatre
Rock Island

www.thegreenroomtheatre.com
309-786-5660

Tickets $15
Running time: 1 hour and 57 minutes, including one intermission

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There are three shows opening on this first weekend of the summer theater season, and before I’ve even seen the others, I’m going to tell you to see JOHN & JEN first.

Though I’m expecting the other two shows to be quite good – considering where they are produced and what I know about some of the actors involved – there are a couple of major reasons why this intimate little musical is something you’ve simply got to see this weekend.

First, of course, this show has a run that is almost criminally short. (And it is the kind of show that should have you calling The Green Room and asking them to revive it – hint, hint.) Secondly – and much more importantly – The Green Room’s JOHN & JEN is an absolutely fantastic show.

Deeply emotional, gorgeously sung, wonderfully put together, stunning in its sheer raw power and in its awesome simplicity, this JOHN & JEN is the best show I’ve seen in a very, very long time.

If this production is a portent of what is to come, this is going to be one of the best summers ever. And if this first directing effort is an indication of what Tyson Wm. Danner is capable of, the rest of the time he is in the Quad-City area is going to be a great experience, too.

Danner says in his director’s notes, "Each one of us can be agents of change in our own lives. And when we can change ourselves, we have the power to change the world." Frankly, at least when judging from the quality of work he has put together here, Danner is going to be one of the people who does just that.

As for JOHN & JEN itself, there is so much to appreciate, it is difficult to know just where to begin.

The material covers a number of sensitive subjects – domestic violence, family dysfunction, estrangement, families torn between war and peace, among others – so one or more of these may hit very close to home for a significant portion of the audience. As many tears as may be shed during this outstanding show, seeing such wrenchingly emotional scenes can also prompt cathartic discussion, so be sure to take someone with you to discuss what you see afterward. For those who have not been touched directly by any of these issues, the show should offer some insights into just how difficult the lives of others can be.

On the technical side, set designer Jovon Everhart has put together a collection of geometric shapes and cool tones in such a careful way as to suggest something much more warm and organic. The set is varied in height and quite adaptable, which lets the many different scenes melt into each other (with a fluidity that is only possible because the perfect combination of tech with writing, performances and overall direction). Lighting designer Tristan Tapscott also adds a couple of very specific cues that give the set additional dimension, and the resulting enhancements are significant – making Everhart’s work even better.

Musicians Danny White (on piano) and Pete Philhower (on percussion) provide the perfect interpretation of the music in JOHN & JEN, letting the singers take center stage without the music ever fading into the background.

Ryan Westwood, who plays John (actually, two Johns), and Sarah Ulloa, who plays Jen, turn in amazing work here, making this terrific musical by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald an absolute gem.

Westwood is great as Jen’s younger brother in Act One. Playing the character from preschool through late teens, he employs a loose-limbed physicality and a delightfully expressive face that works at every age. Even better, he sings the role with an awesome, totally fabulous voice that is pure liquid gold. Every single vocal is perfect, and he infuses the role with such personality and feeling that you truly forget at times that this is a performance. His John of Act Two, Jen’s son, is equally superb, making the welcome comic turn in "Baseball" a total charmer.

Ulloa, who I’ve never seen in a role that makes full use of her dramatic talents – until now, that is – is as fantastic as Westwood in this show. In fact, she might be even better than he is, but both performances are so sublime it would be impossible to ask for more from either. Her vocals are simply the most beautiful thing I have heard in years, and her deeply real Jen is both genuine and complex. As with Westwood, I’ve never seen Ulloa except on a much larger stage, and the intimacy of The Green Room gave her facial expressions such incredible impact that I hope she gets the chance to do much more work like this.

At the preview I saw May 28, it was impossible to find a favorite number, simply because every single song in the show is my favorite. Danner and The Green Room – and the entire cast and crew – must surely be insanely proud of this (insert any of the above adjectives here) show.

It will be standing room only at The Green Room Theatre this weekend, but you will kick yourself 20 times next week if you don’t get in to see this spectacular JOHN & JEN.

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