Start with the gentle humor and imagination of a James Thurber, combine it with a mixture of hip and cute reminiscent of Charles Schulz and propel it with the humanistic passion of Frank Capra and you'll find yourself in the crazy and charming world of Peter Ullian (book) and Robert Lindsey-Nassif's (score) Flight Of The Lawnchair Man. Originating as one of the trio of short musicals making up the show known as 3hree, Lawnchair Man has been expanded into a ninety minute cavalcade which may be short on plot, but is high on whimsy. Funny, tuneful and off-the-wall, it's a joyous children's musical for adults.
Jerry Gorman (Christopher Sutton) is a 34-year-old New Jersey Wal-Mart employee who has never let go of his boyhood ambition of learning to fly. His mild case of dyslexia halts any chance of becoming a pilot, but his spunky turnpike toll-collecting girlfriend, Gracie (Donna Lynne Champlin), is always encouraging him to pursue his dreams, despite an overly protective mother (Susan Jacks) who tries to force him into her idea of maturity.
Inspired by the famous French film, The Red Balloon, Jerry devises a way to attach 400 helium balloons to a lawnchair, which he estimates will lift him only 100 feet or so. When his experiment proves far more successful than he ever imagined, Jerry must chose between being satisfied with what he's achieved so far or defying the authorities who are tying to bring him down and exploring how far his inventiveness can take him.
With a peppy score that includes a light rock sound, an amusing tango and sincere anthems, the authors paint Jerry as one of those nutty American adventurers who occasionally can make people stop laughing at them by proving their brilliance. Musical cameo appearances by Leonardo da Vinci (a jovial Jonathan Brody), Charles Lindbergh (a Jimmy Stewart-ish Christopher Vettel) and Amelia Earhart (Erin Maguire singing a bit like Katherine Hepburn impersonating Edith Piaf) bring home the point of having faith in your beliefs despite those who call you foolish.
Director/choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett's cheery production is painted in buoyant primary hues by set and costume designer Walt Spangler. The playful ways they create an air-born world without the use of elaborate effects are delightfully imaginative.
Sutton is a sweet and sympathetic everyman in the title role, with fine work done by Jacks, Patrick Boll (as an arrogant pilot) and Danette Holden (as an air-headed flight attendant), but the evening belongs to Champlin, who digs enough nuance out of her "supportive girlfriend" role to make Gracie the heart and soul of the evening. Even when merrily jiggling like a bowl of cherry Jell-o in a thick sing-songy accent, there is a strength to her character and a realistic passion in her belief in following your convictions. Her blazing voice defiantly proclaiming in musical anthem, "The Air Is Free", is what takes Flight Of The Lawnchair Man into the stratosphere.
Photos by Diane Sobolewski: Top: Christopher Sutton and Donna Lynne Champlin
Bottom: Donna Lynne Champlin, Christopher Sutton and Company
