Nobody Loves You
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Cititour.com Review
Anyone who has managed to make it through an entire episode of ABC’s “The Bachelor” can easily imagine how ripe such a dating “reality” show is for strong satire, from its tear-filled “rose ceremony” to its many seemingly unscripted moments of love and betrayal. Oddly enough, though, the gifted playwright Itamar Moses and composer-co-lyricist Gaby Alter barely sink their teeth into the genre – never mind bare their teeth – in the new musical Nobody Loves You, now making its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre. In fact, were it not for the almost Herculean efforts of the show’s eight multitalented performers, this lightweight confection might actually evaporate while you were watching it.
Part of the reason the show doesn’t work as well as expected is that the creators seem somewhat less interested in spoofing this kind of entertainment – here represented by a fictional show called “Nobody Loves You” -- than in a fairly standard romantic subplot. We’re supposed to care whether contestant Jeff (the appealing Bryan Fenkart), a cynical Ph.D. student who has gone on the air for less-than-traditional reasons, and surprisingly grounded, wannabe-screenwriter Jenny (the likeable Aleque Reid), who is the show’s production assistant, end up happily ever after. But the characters aren’t that interesting for us to feel that vested in the outcome.
Fortunately, the rest of the crackerjack cast manages to do their considerable best to entertain us, even with mostly substandard material. The evening’s standout performer is Tony Award nominee Rory O’Malley (last seen in The Book of Mormon) who is downright hilarious as Jenny’s gay roommate and avid “Nobody Loves You” fan Evan. The actor makes a full-course meal out of the fast-paced “The Twitter Song,” the musical’s most memorable creation.
The always brilliant Leslie Kritzer exhibits her perfect comic timing in a variety of roles, notably no-nonsense producer Nina; the delicious Lauren Molina takes no prisoners as the slutty Megan; Heath Calvert is pitch-perfect as the show’s smarmy, dim-witted host Byron; Autumn Hurlbert gets plenty of laughs as perpetually confused contestant Samantha; and handsome Roe Hartrampf nails not-as-good-as-he seems Christian.
True, I’d rather sit through this show again, even with all its imperfections, than another actual episode of “The Bachelor.” But for real laughs, I’d be better off watching a mini-marathon of “Big Bang Theory” reruns.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.2st.com/plays/viewPla/0/170
Cast
Heath Calvert, Bryan Fenkart, Roe Hartrampf, Autumn Hurlbert, Leslie Kritzer, Lauren Molina, Rory O'Malley, Aleque Reid
Open/Close Dates
Opening 6/20/2013
Closing 8/18/2013
Box Office
212-246-4422
Theatre Info
Second Stage Theatre
307 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
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