Breakups are difficult. Almost all of us have experienced the collapse of a relationship, and the hurt has no relationship to our sexual orientation. Pain is pain.
In Diversionary Theater and Rose Marcario's great production of The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical, it is Helen (Beth Malone) who is suffering.
Everything starts with Patricia Cotter's sculpted dialogue. She doesn't waste a word and always has the right word at every moment. Lori Scarlett came along with music and lyrics that dovetail perfectly with Cotter's book. Sue Hamilton's concept of morphing Cotter's critically acclaimed play into a musical was a brilliant idea. The result is some great music and dialogue waiting for the right production team and cast.
Rose Marcario brought in Peter Schneider to direct with G. Scott Lacy as musical director and Christine Kellogg as choreographer. The team also includes set designer David Potts and Lighting Designer Stephen Sakowski. Rounding out the team are costume designer Jeanne Reith and associate set designer and props person Kay Livick. Amy Dalton, on piano, excellently backs up the singing and dancing numbers.
Beth Malone is a perfect Helen. Her timing is impeccable, her moves always right-on, her emotions making for a perfect Helen. Playing her gay guy best friend, Bob, is Andy Collins, who is a perfect foil. Watching the two play off of each other is pure delight. Their "Barnacle of Love" with the ensemble and their duet "The Chicks and Dicks Bossa Nova" brings the house down. Malone's song load includes every tune in the show. That's 17 songs. Wow!
The other cast members play both ensemble roles and at least one character. Mei-Ling Downey is leather-clad Frances, Helen's rebound lover, who has her own agenda. Jeannine Marque is Bad Perm, Helen's replacement. Molly Lahr is Joanie, a loveable sweetheart terribly in love with Monica, Tori Roze, a very butch young lady heading towards the altar. Melissa Fernandes is Sheila, and occasionally, a very funny Mom. She always has perfect comedic timing. Finally we meet the charming Casey (Chrissy Burns).
Peter Schneider's fast-paced direction is excellent. We open with Helen's breakup and her friends consoling her, with Bob being closest to her. Countering her breakup is the pending marriage between Monica and Joanie and, of course, the necessary conflicts over the formality of a wedding.
Enter Casey and "I'm On Fire." Burns's rendition is hot, even hotter than hot. She explodes into a sensuous song and dance that etches its passion on the eyes and minds of everyone in the audience. I'm sure there was more than one cold shower that night.
Watching the Lahr and Roze characters toughing it out during the wedding planning, again shows that this is not a sexual orientation specific problem. Weddings, especially formal ones, can be insanely complex. The actresses do a great job, especially in the finale.
The relationship between Frances and Helen proves much more complex than Helen had imagined. Downey and Malone play it with just the right amount passion and reserve. Their "What Do You Want From Me?" adds an exclamation point to their relationship. The Break up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical is one of the best productions I've seen this year. Of course, I'm an incurable romantic!
