Love. Sex. Affairs. Timelessness. Struggle. Control. Truth. Todd Theatre’s first ever musical, “Hello Again,” written by Michael John LaChiusa, has it all.
The cast consists of 10 talented musicians and actors who collaborate and come together to share unforgettable experiences, each set in a different decade of the 20th century and in a non-chronological order, allowing for an eclectic multitude of various musical styles and pastiche ranging from opera to 1970s disco.
Seniors Kristin Volpicella, Sarah Seider, Joshua Hatcher and Jessie Thorpe, sophomores Amanda Averack, Lazaro Estrada and Matthew Myers and freshmen Doug Zeppenfeld, Andrew Polec and John Amir-Fazli proved to be extraordinary in a truly breathtakingly beautiful performance of this show that details a daisy chain of sexual encounters and love affairs.
“Every single scene shows a different side of love. There’s the lustful side, the power struggle, the intimate side, etc.,” Averack, who plays The Nurse said.
An interview with LaChiusa shined upon some common aspects and themes of this musical.
“Allowing a partner to be aggressive – or appear to be aggressive – is, in some ways, an act of aggression in and of itself,” LaChiusa said. “However, female aggression in the popular media is often depicted as something monstrous, abnormal. Dramatist Arthur Schnitzler understood the feminine paradox – she may be aggressive but she must take pains to conceal this or she’ll be branded as a monster. The paradox plays itself out today in the modern popular media.”
“This show is actually really intricate. There is so much going on – so many connections between the scenes,” Zeppenfeld, who plays The Soldier, said. “I just noticed a new connection yesterday that I hadn’t seen in previous weeks. It’s so simple, yet complex at the same time. You will want to see it a second time because there are so many little details to catch each time. We are all discovering new things every day. This show completely transcends time – we go from the 1940s to the 1960s to the 1930s. It’s really great.”
The show consists of 10 scenes, each equally as entertaining and captivating as the last. Everything about “Hello Again” will leave the audience craving more – from the creative array of costumes to the changing set, the props and lighting, the catchy tunes and the incredible investment of emotion emanating from the stage.
At some points, the humor is unmatched, while other moments present sympathetic tragedies. All of the 10 cast members completely embodied their roles and created an incredible, believable, convincingly real story. In fact, it’s easy for one to forget that he or she is sitting in a theater.
I commend Justin Townscend for his impeccable set and lighting capabilities that complimented the show in more ways than one. For example, the second scene portrays the rays of the sunshine pouring through a window, and I swore that I forgot I was sitting in a dark theater at 8:30 p.m. Every single person involved in this show contributed significantly to the overall phenomenal outcome.
“‘Hello Again’ is not just a show about sex; it’s a show about love,” Polec, who plays the Young Thing, said. “Love is a continuous circle that brings everyone together into the same mix. When you’re in love, you really give yourself up to the other person. This show is about the ideal vs. the reality.”
Sitting in Todd Theatre watching these young, aspiring, richly talented individuals combine their efforts to produce something magnificent left me craving more and wanting to say hello again and again and again. This is a show that you don’t want to miss.
“We’re tackling a very daring, courageous musical,” Director Nigel Maiser said. “The cast has been absolutely incredible. ‘Hello Again’ is a small musical as far as size goes, and I feel it’s the right scale and material for us. It’s a contemporary, chamber musical – all things I felt were very important. I hope the show is entertaining and that people get their asses in here.”
This year’s production is playing at Todd Theatre from Feb. 14-16, and Feb. 19-23 at 8 p.m. each night. There will also be matinees on weekends during this time at 3 p.m.
Miller is a member of the class of 2011.
