“Bright Star” reviewed by Frank Meccia ( notes by Al Bresloff)

HIGHLY RECOMMEND *****

I always enjoy when a new play comes to Chicago for the first time. And BOHO Theatre begins it’s 2019 season with a winner BRIGHT STAR.  Steve Martin and Edie Brickell who wrote the book and lyrics and music for this emotional, warm and tender 2 ½ hour production. BRIGHT STAR was nominated for 5 Tony Awards, and received a Drama Desk Award for outstand Music.

Inspired by a true story, with a plot that we have seen before in plays going all the way back to Shakespeare, the story is woven around the loss of an infant and the encounter many years later among strangers. The original musical tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and 40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II. With the opening number “If you knew my Story”, song by Missy Wise, I knew this musical would toy with my emotions, and boy did it. With voices like Jeff Pierpoint (as Billy) and Josiah Robinson (as Jimmy Ray) and the rest of the cast who also have the talent of not only singing but are able to play an instrument as well.

Too me the surprise was the Bluegrass music of Steve Martin. The music was refreshing, and complemented the entire show, and under the direction of Julie Nichols, was the hit for the evening. I had to stay afterwards to congratulate her for an excellent job. This production marks the companies first as a resident company at Lincoln Park’s Greenhouse Theatre Center, and the first under the leadership of the new artistic director Stephen Schellhardt.

For an evening of shear thrills, and great music and acting, I highly recommend this musical. And the new intimate surroundings of the Greenhouse Theatre Center, makes this a worthy play to see. Greenhouse is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue. Parking can be a hassle, so read the signs on the streets and watch the meters.

“Bright Star will continue thru May 5th-

Show Type: Drama

Box Office: 773-404-7336

www.BoHoTheatre.com
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at ” Bright Star”

NOTES FROM AL BRESLOFF

After reading and discussing this production , I decided that this was something to see. Frank was right. A sharp production that tells a wonderful story. Pay close attention as the story goes back in time and to the “so called present” as we see what a small town in the south experiences back in the “roaring twenties” leading up to just after World War II. The ensemble is brilliant, and under the direction of Ericka Mac, this musical truly becomes a “chamber piece” ( although the running time is over two hours and there is an intermission). The time moves swiftly as the ensemble moves the set pieces and the story never has a lull.

The story is about a lost love( that was forbidden as well) that in the end comes to reality and a wonderful reunion at the end. The cast is superb, led by the highly talented Missy Wise, and her true love, Jimmy Ray ( deftly handled by Josiah Robinson). Billy (Jeff Pierpont truly does a masterful job in this role) the veteran writer want-to-be and his love story with Margo ( the lovely Kiersten Frumkin) make for a nice story as well.

Hard to believe that a crazy man like Steve Martin could write such a wonderful story, but my hat goes off to him and to Edie Brickell. My hat also goes off to the musicians in this production, led by Julie B. Nichols ( marvelous) and the fiddle player, Hillary Bayley is incredible. This is in my opinion a MUST SEE. Even if Blue-grass is not your thing, this is a wonderful piece.