Review: Conveniently Charming 'Convenience'

The word "convenience" implies there was some element of luck involved as things fell into place.   This certainly is not the case for Convenience, currently playing the New Conservatory Theatre Center.  That is to say – this production doesn't need luck – because it hits all the right notes on its own.

With just seven chairs and a keyboard, something profoundly delightful is created, not found in larger houses -- intimacy.  Convenience, a five-person musical written and directed by Gregg Coffin, weaves a delicate and timely story of a mother and son (Liz and Vince) coping with their past and forced to reconnect in one topsy-turvy week.  Each have a 'secret' relationship, that once revealed, can either tear them apart or help rekindle their own.  Coffin's heartfelt, sassy, and fun original score provides a constant ride of laughs and sentiment exceptionally personified by NCTC's fine cast.

Under the flawless guidance of pianist and musical director Tim Hanson, Coffin's addictive tunes unfold into a finely structured five-song intro that expertly introduces our couples and their dilemmas.  Vince, the 26-year old gay son of Liz, is beginning the next chapter of his life, moving in with his boyfriend Ethan.  Opposite, his mother Liz – still dealing with the lingering shock-waves of her divorce with Vince's father – is offered a proposal by charmer, Abe.  Each couple of "two perfect people with too much to lose" immediately wins us over with the realness of their issues and attractive voices.

Unlike many other theatre experiences, where a certain actor may outshine the rest of a particular piece of music tickles your fancy, this production is a beautiful blend of both.  The entire show is sung by sweet actors, with well-crafted segues of few spoken lines. Coffin's breath-taking and amiable music is sprinkled with delicious style, featuring lullabies, jazz, lounge-croons, and Sondheim-esque speed and wit.  His running-metaphor with doors (opening, shutting, and revolving) keeps an attentive listener amused from song to song.

Andrew Willis-Woodward (Vince) makes his NCTC debut with a great voice (and head of curls)! Willis-Woodward stands-out best in his interactions with Ricardo Rust (Young Vince) as he helps his younger-self out from hiding inside his fantasies, to understand a complicated reality during the teary-eyed song "Little Spaceman."

Rust is enjoyable as the soothing-voiced supportive (yet pushy) boyfriend, Ethan.  While Vince is visiting his mother, Ethan serves as a comical alarm-clock.  His real comedy arises during "The Ogre and The Wife," when Liz meets the boyfriend of her son.  Loretta Janca tackles Liz's complex character very well.  When she sees her "little boy's grown way too tall," her soprano soars into a mother's desperation. 

Willis-Woodward, Janca, and Rust come together brilliantly during the song, "The Revolving Door," which provides a hilarious cyclical routine. Each day kick-starts with an increasingly-angry Ethan/Alarm, a bitter breakfast coffee chat, and Vince and Liz going their separate ways…until each are in such a flurry they almost don't hear each other "come out" in their tirade.

Mike Figueira as Abe is pleasant and demonstrates a controlled sound during "Building A Wall."  Joy Lian rounds out the cast as Young Liz, meaningfully meandering between past and present with bits of advice and family-history.  Her scenes with Rust and Janca are all well-done.

Parts of the first act could have been tighter only for the sake of moving the action – we get the point, Liz is torn.  I would have liked to know a little more about Vince and Abe's history. Also, some more spoken lines would have helped with Liz and Vince's first interactions, despite the edge and awkwardness written into Coffin's score.

Coffin closes his musical with a touching three-song set, including the beautiful quartet "In The Morning," which bonds mother and son together with story-telling lyrics like the "stretch and shiver" of a new-born.  Audiences of course love their musicals in nice little packages with ribbons on top, and the finale provides just that, with a terribly catchy tune, underscoring the sublime talent of this cast and composer.  How convenient!

Convenience, a musical by Gregg Coffin, with musical direction by Tim Hanson.  The New Conservatory Theatre (25 Van Ness, San Francisco) now playing through December 17.  2hrs 15mins, with one 15min intermissionTickets ($28-$34) available at box office, 415-861-8972, or www.nctcsf.org. 

Photos by Stephanie Temple

Andrew Willis-Woodward (Vince)

Loretta Janca (Liz)

Ricardo Rust (Ethan/Young Vince)

Mike Figueira (Abe/Traitor King)

Joy Lian (Young Liz)

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