“Island Song”

Highly Recommended **** I begin this review by saying, “Thank you 4 Chairs Theatre for your cleverly produced “Island Song”. While watching this wonderful piece makes me wish I was back in the theater watching a “live” production, I must say, this video presentation was as close as one might get to being there! Under the direction of Lauren Berman, this  Midwest premiere of Carner and Gregor’s musical is well cast, well performed and very well put together. I know that once Berman can move it to a real stage where the actors can actually play off each other, the mood and the feel will be even stronger. Let us hope that this will take place ( sooner than later).

The story, written by Derek Gregor ( who also wrote the music) , Sam Carner (who wrote the lyrics) and Marlo Hunter is a fairly simple one that is lived every day of every year. Young people moving to a new ( and big) city with all of the goals and ambitions one might expect. In this story, it is New York ( which is the Island). The characters are very typical and in many cases, remind us of people in our lives ( or even our life itself). Carolyn ( Kaitlin Feely, who I have seen in several 4Chairs Cabaret nights) is looking for a new place to live and we witness her relationship as she goes it alone, far from home. Cooper ( a powerful Joe Farrell) is an actor ( or let us say struggling to be an actor) whose parents would prefer a different lifestyle. Will ( deftly handled by Nick Arceo) is an architect looking for love. Shoshana ( Jasmine Lacy Young) is a singer that is trying to discover the true meaning of why she is who she is and last but not least, we have Jordan ( Aalon Smith) who is both captivating and as we learn, the woman of Will’s dreams.

During this almost two hours of streaming, we get a combination of musical numbers that equal  19 actual songs and a few reprises. Each performers did their own video and then the pieces were put together by Filip Granczny with some great stills of the city by Matt Cannon. A true work of art by the team, bringing it all together. During the show, we see them grow during a year in their lives living in New York. There are moments that paths cross and we learn more about each and everyone of them. Their relationships, both love and family and even a little work.

Many years ago, there was a TV show, “Naked City” that always ended with” there are 8 million stories in the naked city, this has been one of them”. In this case, these are five of them and I for one felt in my heart that these were based on actual people that the writers knew. It was almost like a Studs Terkel book ( like “Working”) where we get into the lives and souls of each character. I loved it.

The songs that truly stand out in addition to the finale ( a wonderful piece to bring the story to a close with a positive twist) and Cooper’s “Make It Here” as well as the “After Hours” number. It is a year in the lives and the handling is one that is well done- again, thank you 4 Chairs Theatre for bringing us to this during the year of Covid in the theater world

You can watch this show thru  May 2nd. Visit www.4chairstheatre.org to be a part of this premiere.  Tickets are $15 and once you purchase you have 4 hours to watch.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Island Song”.