Review: FIRST DATE BROADWAY MUSICAL at Booth Playhouse

FIRST DATE Broadway Musical is a musical with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Based around the concept of a blind date, these first daters bring tons of baggage, which gets kicked around metaphorically onstage with truly funny and witty words and song.

Aaron, played by Matthew Schatz is perfect in this role of being the slightly socially awkward "nice boy," who tries and tries again to make this date work. Casey, played by Katerina Papacostas, his blind date, chugging down booze with a chaser, has the perfect edge, making their scenes together work like magic.

We've all been there, "Did I really just say that?" resonated. Their inner talk with the ghosts of family and friends caused this play to be fast paced and hilarious.

There were tables and chairs on the floor and on the stage for audience, but more on that later. I was first taken with the beautiful set of the restaurant, located in the First Ward, designed by Christine Peters. It set the scene for this first date. We meet our leads meeting each other for the first time. The supporting cast, who played family, friends and exes were fabulous with tight choreography, directed inspiringly by director/choreographer, Dan Knechtges.

Being one half of a mixed marriage, I so enjoyed the rabbis with Grandma Ida, played by Gretchen Wylder, when Aaron learns Casey isn't Jewish. Seeing Aaron's inner thoughts with the religious men with tallits dance onstage was priceless.

The patrons in the restaurant were actual audience members. This had its good points and "other." I enjoyed the spontaneousness of how the audience restaurant patrons reacted to the actors in scenes. Using the audience brought some great improvisation, which will never be duplicated. My only problem with using the audience as restaurant patrons was that they wanted to see the play in its entirety. They were focused on Aaron and Casey at all times. It would have been more believable if they were served food and peanuts, so they too, had to deal with their reality as restaurant patrons in this play.

The musicians onstage behind the action blended seamlessly as if they were performing for this restaurant crowd. The songs complemented the action and I was taken with the beautiful strength of Papacostas' voice in "Safer."

As each half of this blind date hesitated, recoiled, unintentionally insulted, reflected, tried again, let walls down, allowed vulnerability to show, and listened, we were taken on a roller coaster ride of what budding relationships are really like. Unlike the usual stories with no resolution, FIRST DATE Broadway Musical gives us a feel good conclusion.

FIRST DATE Broadway Musical is a show I highly recommend!

FIRST DATE Broadway Musical, presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts, is at Booth Playhouse, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center through November 20, 2016 with matinee and evening performances. Tickets are on sale at Blumenthal Performing Arts Belk Theater, Belk Theater box office: 704-372-1000. Photo by Daniel Coston.