Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse’s latest show, ARE WE THERE YET, carries as its subtitle "A Family Survival Guide," which proves far more accurate than the musical’s name – and, for that matter, the way the show has been marketed.
Prior to the opening of ARE WE THERE YET, I had the distinct impression that its focus was on a family vacation, a la the car trip from hell. Of course, the idea of an entire musical set inside a car seem a bit farfetched, or even quite slow, but I was prepared to do my duty as a critic – even if it meant an entire evening of "Did not!" / "Did, too!" dialogue.
Happily, this charming little musical is nothing like what I was expecting.
What ARE WE THERE YET actually does is entertain in a way that no on-stage car trip has yet managed. A series of more than 15 vignettes bracketed by few company numbers, this material threads together a bittersweet and often funny collection of family situations, ranging from the momentous to the utterly ordinary. The result makes for a thoughtful, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Many shows without some kind of through-narrative suffer from a disconnect that constantly interrupts the theatrical experience, but this new musical (written by James Hindman, Ray Roderick and Cheryl Stern, with music by John Glaudini) easily escapes that peril with a clear focus on the family life subject matter. And no musical revue thrives without a topnotch ensemble – which is exactly what ARE WE THERE YET has.
Tristan Layne Tapscott (on right in photo, above) plays a range of characters – including a young soon-to-be father trying to get a fetus enrolled in the right preschool, a dad intimidating his daughter’s date on prom night, and an older man wondering if he’ll inherit the Alzheimer’s that has submerged his mother. Every single time, Tapscott is terrific, inhabiting a character with physicality and emotion. There’s not a single off note in his many performances, and you will leave the theater with a renewed appreciation for the breadth and depth of Tapscott’s massive and multi-faceted talent.
And Tapscott is far from the only great performer in ARE WE THERE YET.
Erin Dickerson and Sandra D. Rivera are never better than their work together on "I Know She’s Out There," where an adoptive mother and daughter – each searching for their biological relative – meet online, yet they also shine as slightly competitive moms during "Batting Zero." Additionally, they play roles that span decades, from child and teenager and young mom to pet owner, grandmother and retiree – and do all of them well. Rivera is particularly outstanding in her "Audrey, Jr." scene, where a new grandmother’s thrill at her family’s expansion is heartwarming and unexpectedly emotional.
Tom Walljasper(on the left in photo, above), whose elastic comedic style is often on display in Circa’s productions, also turns in a series of deeply-felt emotional performances here. He plays a baseball coach, a mid-life post-divorce dater, and more than one proud dad – giving each role the right touch of nuance. The comic turns – including a teen on prom night meeting his date’s overprotective father and a gleeful senior citizen making the most of his improved odds with the widows at his retirement home – are laugh-aloud funny, and Walljasper makes the most of every single line.
Musical director Ron May, whose fine keyboard work blends with the musicianship of Stephen Hopkins on bass and the always-superb John Ladson II on percussion, deserves major credit for helping this ensemble showcase their many talents. Director-choreographer Ann Nieman has worked in a few cute dance steps – my favorite is the choreography for "Cha-Ching" -- and should be quite proud of how ARE WE THERE YET has turned out.
It’s a fine show that celebrates life at every stage.
ARE WE THERE YET
