Review: Exhibits Teenage Angst BARE: A POP OPERA

The Summer of teenage angsty themed musicals continues with BARE: A POP OPERA. It is one of those shows that never quite made it to Broadway, the closest being an off-Broadway run in 2004, but still has a cultish fan base. It is also a regional favorite with productions as far as the Philippines and Argentina. What makes this story different is that it is a pop opera, fully told through song. Young Artists Theatre took on this production challenge with limited resources, choosing to focus on storytelling.

The story revolves around a Catholic boarding school and all the teenage drama that comes with repressed feelings and hormones. Peter and Jason have been in love for a while, but things go astray when Peter wants to tell the world. While the story is thinly veiled, the music is fantastic. It's pop/rock with some great ballads, a perfect fit to showcase teenage angst, but without the in-your-face juxtaposition of SPRING AWAKENING.

Addison Reynolds owned his role as Peter. He was believably uncomfortable with his relationship and being "in the closet." Reynolds is a strong vocalist who stands well as a soloist and in duet. Opposite Reynolds, Jason played by Hobie Henson, was the confused person he needs to be. It's heartbreaking to watch the characters that orbit Jason's force their will onto his life. It is painfully clear what sort of consequences occur when there is a lack of empathy. "Are You There?" a duet between Peter and acquaintance Matt, seems to sum up the theme of the show well - Listening is only part of a solution, but truly seeing someone for who they are can make all the difference.

The female star of the evening surprised me as not Ivy, but Nadia, played by Katherine Lozon. At first I thought Lozon was miscast, but looking beyond her pretty physical appearance, Lozon was a great Nadia. Arguably the best vocalist and actress in the group, Lozon was appropriately comedic especially in "Plain Jane Fat Ass" and "Birthday Bitch." I felt that Rebecca McVeigh was miscast as Ivy. McVeigh's look and voice are too sweet. It was hard to make the logical leap that the character she plays is supposed to be overly lusty.

Young Artists Theatre is a relatively New Group that formed in 2013 based out of Winter Springs with performances throughout Orlando. They strive to provide professional performance opportunities for high school and college students outside of your standard "school" show. The performers focus on storytelling rather than the technical aspects of running a show. As a fledgling performing group, I think with time and more funding Young Artists Theatre has potential for better future productions.

That being said, the set of BARE was bare. The only semblance to Catholic Church setting is a small cross on a table at the onset of the show. To compensate for the empty space, the backdrop lighting filled the void with silhouettes and desperately needed character depth. I beliEve Young Artists Theater did the best they could with limited funding. For a show that focuses on vocals, I think it is essential to have at least the principal cast on microphone. This production does not use any sound enhancement and is sung to a track. Sadly, I had difficulty hearing the performers over the background music. Many parts were inaudible, made even worse when the cast wasn't facing towards the audience. In contrast, the full company numbers were great.

BARE: A POP OPERA runs until July 2nd at 7pm in the Mandell Theater located in Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Tickets are $15 adults; $10 students with ID and are cash only at the door. Seating is open, so come early enough to grab a good seat. I recommend something within the first two rows or on an aisle for the best shot at enjoying the music. Visit Young Artists Theatre's Facebook page for more information about the group and for performance information.

Photo credit: Young Artists Theatre

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