Last night Guildford Fringe Theatre Company opened their theatrical account for 2014 with an outstanding rendition of Andrew Lippa’s musical, John and Jen. The production took place at their cultural home in The Back Room of The Star Inn and will be showing there until Saturday 17 May.
Although the Guildford Fringe have been hosting monthly Kick Back Comedy night’s and are busy putting the final touches on The Guildford Fringe Festival 2014, they have also managed to squeeze in a gem of a show this month. Emotional and humorous, John and Jen: The Musical is a fantastic illustration of how small-scale theatre can be executed in an unconventional space.
The musical was originally produced in New York by the Lamb’s Theatre Company in 1995 and covers nearly 40 years of American socio-cultural history over its two acts. Playing to a British audience, could therefore have its pitfalls, but events covered like the anti-establishment cultural revolution of the 60s and 70s and the Vietnam War are so well documented that you don’t need to have a doctorate in Contemporary U.S History to follow the plot line.
The story in Act I follows the relationship between Jen (Jessica Sherman) and her little brother John (Martin Neely). We are initially introduced to six year old Jen welcoming her baby brother into the world, before a series of scenes throughout their childhood unfold. The transition through the years was portrayed really well by the basic use of props, hairstyles and the acting itself and made entertaining viewing as we were directed through several well performed numbers.
Following this, the children grow older, Jen moves away to go to college and John falls under the influence of his father without his big sister there to protect him. The siblings lives take them in opposing directions, arguing during the ‘Run and Hide’ number that Neely performed exceptionally well in. Act I ends with an American flag being draped over a coffin to represent John’s tragic death in the Vietnam War, however, it stays on stage throughout the second Act to represent the shadow that overhangs Jen posthumously.
Act II continues with Jen as she grows older and has a child of her own, which she aptly names John in dedication to her departed brother. Martin Neely acts out the character of John again and although the performance levels don’t dip, the visual portrayal loses some of its effect second time around. The comic elements of the first half begin to feel as distant a memory as Jen’s deceased brother as her relationship with her son breaks down. Jen, determined not to let John make the same mistakes growing up as she did, pushes him further and further away.
Jessica Sherman sang with confidence and exhibited her great range, whereas Martin Neely’s acting ability really shone through in the first Act especially. Nick Wyshna did a fine job in his inaugural role directing, making good use of the space in The Back Room of The Star Inn, with the actors often coming off stage to widen the performance area. However, the lighting on stage left was a little misdirected which did leave the characters somewhat in the dark for some scenes.
Musical Director, Gary Jerry also deserves a huge mention for his performance throughout the show. It is not too often that the music is played live in small-scale musicals, so it was a real treat to see him performing tirelessly throughout the show alongside Sherman and Neely.
The cliché of an emotional rollercoaster does not even begin to describe the feeling you get from watching this little-known, but well-directed musical. Andrew Lippa’s American tale of love and despair is certainly emotive and draining, but is so well written that everyone can relate. Guildford Fringe’s rendition is a fine piece of musical theatre, but be prepared for both tears of joy and sorrow!
Nick Wyshna, Managing Director of Guildford Fringe Theatre Company and production Director had this to say after the show: “I couldn’t have wished for a better press night for John and Jen. As this was my directing debut I feel utterly blessed with the cast, technical team and the Guildford Fringe committee- bring on the rest of 2014′s busy schedule!”
James Martin
Photo Credit: David Craik photography