NYMF 2016 // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "NORMATIVITY"
Bury your Gays. In popular literature and on many current television series, the phrase comes up again and again when a gay character is bumped off prematurely, often to add drama or suspense. Yet the straight characters live. Another example is the ever popular troupe of a gay relationship never ending with a "happily ever after" but always in tragedy. These stories can exist and should exist of course, but why does it seem that most often those are the only stories that exist. That's where the term "Bury your Gays" comes from. And Jaime Jarrett's clever new musical NORMATIVITY, which just ended its run at the 2016 New York Musical Theatre Festival, tackles that theme head on with both successful and not so successful outcomes.
The story revolves around Charlie Jacobs (Mitchell Winter), a successful novelist trying to finish his latest book. His editor and fiancee Anne (Anneesh Sheth) wants him to kill off the lead lesbian character to make a tragic ending that his publisher will love. But he's struggling with it. Within the novel so is its lead character Emily (Madeline Wolf). She is pinning after a cheerleader in the novel and when her love is not returned she's supposed to end it all by swallowing pills. But she just can't do it and becomes so frustrated that she wills herself out of the novel and into the real world, finding herself face to face with her creator Charlie. Once the shock has worn off, Emily and Charlie team up to get a second opinion of his novel at the local high school. There Emily meets Taylor (Izzy Castaldi), a high school lesbian who knows Charlie's work and is also sick of the "bury your gays" trope. So she and Emily decide to rewrite it from the actual perspective of two gay teenagers and hope that Charlie will take their notes and finally write a true, heartfelt novel of a gay teen romance that doesn't end in tragedy. Little does Taylor know that Emily's life is literally on the line and that she's about to fall for a girl that's not exactly... real. Or is she?
The cast is filled with some great talent, most notably Izzy Castaldi as Taylor and Madeline Wolf as Emily. Wolf shines with vulnerability and naive charm as the fish out of water Emily. Her voice is lovely and she approaches every moment with touches that never feel forced, even when some of the writing does. Castaldi is a star. In the beginning, she's in the background and expertly transitions to the character you feel for most. Her performance is daring and fresh. The voices from the ensemble are also strong and electric, particularly Soph Menas.
Through some deft, fluid direction by Mia Walker and some truly tuneful songs by Jaime Jarrett, Normativity has the beginnings of something truly special. However, this being the first time it has been in front of an audience, there is still a lot of work to be done. Walker direction however is strong and the choreography by Adin Walker is simple and effective.The book itself is messy and not nearly as inspired as the idea itself. Throughout the score there's many of the same rhythms repeating a bit too often. Most importantly, we need to know exactly who the story is about. Right now the main character is Charlie. And Emily. And Taylor. Whose story is this? (I'll answer who's it should be: Taylor's 100%). Charlie and his fiancée Anne are also due for a major rewrite. Nothing about Charlie is exciting or new and his fiancée is written even worse. She comes off as a narrow minded, one track editor who WILL NOT see past brutally killing off the main character but who we are supposed to feel sympathy for. Right now, we don't. The ensemble also needs a voice. They need a soul. Mike (Christopher Livingston) has the most to do but other than being quirky, he doesn't do much. Dev (Soph Menas) has a few beautiful solos but we have no idea who the character actually is. Smoother transitions between the fantastical, like Emily jumping out of the book and into the real world, need ironing and reworking. The ending scene is close to great and the last song "The Tale of Emily" is beautiful. But it's preceeded by a clunky exit of Emily and looses momentum going into it. Normativity can be more. It can be stronger. It should be and after a few fresh coats of paint will be. Right now it feels like Feeling Electric when it needs to be Next to Normal. Rewrites are in order Charlie Jacobs. And I'm excited to see where they take you.
MATEO'S GRADE: B-
Book, Music, and Lyrics by: Jaime Jarrett Directed by: Mia Walker Starring: Izzy Castaldi, Jesse James Keitel, Christopher Livingston, Soph Menas, Geena Quintos, Aneesh Sheth, Mitchell Winter, and Madeline Wolf. Playing at The Pearl Theatre as part of the 2016 NYMF For More info: http://nymf.org/festival/2016-events/normativity/
MATEO MORENO is an actor, writer, and a playwright. His plays Happily After Tonight, Within Our Walls, Bohemian Valentine and Paper Airplanes have been produced in NY and beyond. He most recently co-stared in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play City of Glass at The New Ohio Theatre and appeared in the workshop of Hamlet, or I Shall Mourn The Rivers at The Brick Theatre. He is currently workshopping his new play Fairground Attraction as part of Athena Theatre's 2016 Playwrighting Group. He lives in Brooklyn.