'...Just Around the Bend' at the Phoenix Stage Company - My Review

...Just Around the Bend is the name of the original musical by E. Karl Gallmeyer. I had seen the composer serve as musical director for a show at the Warner and had no idea that his credits include several compositions for the stage including Tales from the Fault Line: A Hallowe'en Nightmare and Cupid 2.0. His musical The Thrill of it All! will be produced by Landmark Community Theatre next fall. He is also currently developing a musical based on an obscure folk tale. The talented composer is married to the multi-talented community theatre actress Jeannine Gallmeyer.

Mr. Gallmeyer began writing his particular musical about 14 years ago. Knowing how difficult it can be to compose one song, I admire the amount of work that went into writing the whopping 23 musical numbers in this piece. The Phoenix Stage Company in Naugatuck was thrilled to present it as a part of their New Works Series; I had a complimentary ticket to attend the first Friday performance of this new show. The musical review in five scenes contain only the tiniest bit of spoken lines; the original songs are grouped by theme and flow seamlessly during the two acts. 

The scenes include Everywhere You Look - Choices!, Tell Me, Are You Really So Happy?, Tuesday I Have Life in Control, and after intermission Wednesday - Should I Stay? Should I go? and No One Ever Advances Without Having to Choose. Readers can sense the theme of the choices we make in life and love. Click here to watch a great video of the composer and the actors.

The music was beautifully arranged by the composer, who expertly played the score hidden behind the onstage piano. It was accompaniment in the truest sense; there was not a single melody line to help out the four cast members. This did not appear to be a problem for the wonderfully talented performers in this cast. Click here to listen to some music samples. Click to listen to music samples

The numbers featured many solos, as well as some impressive ensemble pieces where the four voices blended beautifully. These quartets were probably my favorite parts because I have never met a strong four part harmony that I didn't like. However, I liked how the solo pieces gave each performer a chance to shine. The lovely staging truly added to the production. There were songs in a variety of styles and most of them were pretty challenging to sing. The opening number reminded me of the music I heard in Company.

There was what I would call a hint of scenery that included lots of black, traffic arrows and triangular revolving pieces that suggested the bend mentioned in the title. Mr. Gallmeyer designed the set and it was effectively lit by Ed Bassett. There were separate costumes for each act.

The two men and two women, all hand-picked by the composer and all played by performers making their PSC debut,  essentially made up a younger and an older couple. Waterbury resident and WAMS graduate Daniel Beaudoin was a member of the younger couple. Mr. Beaudoin possesses an amazing tenor voice and wonderful diction that was a pleasure to hear in his four solo pieces. Gia Wright appeared as the other half of this couple; this young lady can sing.

Kevin Sturmer has composed the score for two produced musicals and is currently writing the book, lyrics and music for a new show. Here he was the male half of the mature couple and did a great job with his solos. His counterpart was performed by Suzanne Powers. I remembered her in the Gefilte Fish Chronicles at the Warner, as Miss Jones in How the Succeed at Seven Angels and Elizabeth Benning in Young Frankenstein at Thomaston Opera House. She thanks the composer for allowing her "the opportunity to bring his vision from the page to the stage." That is truly a gift.

Ed Bassett told us during the house announcements that ....Just Around the Bend is going to NY as a cabaret performance; break a leg to everyone involved.

Don't be afraid of going to see a new work and try to see one of the remaining performances tonight and tomorrow afternoon.

Click here to listen to the podcast of Kevin Sturmer's appearance on Backstage with Johnny O.