Front Row Centre Theatre Review: JOHN & JEN

Theatre Review by Mark Andrew Lawrence, Front Row Centre

A show titled JOHN AND JEN may conjure of visions of a love story, and that is ultimately what it is, detailing the love between a brother and sister and a mother and son. First produced at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, and later seen at the Lamb's theatre in New York in 1995, the musical by Tom Greenwald and Andrew Lippa has developed a huge cult following thanks to an excellent original cast recording.

As important as it is to have the score preserved on a CD, theatre really only happens when a show is on stage in front of an audience. Mitchell Marcus inspired by that recording, has selected JOHN AND JEN as the sophomore production for his Acting Up Stage Company. It's a worthy follow up to last year's successful staging of Jonathan Larson's tick…tick…BOOM, offering two outstanding star performances.

As the titular characters Kyle Blair and Stephanie Roth are both riveting. This is not a show about special effects. The performers take us on an emotional journey creating the magic on stage. Act One charts John's life, as the younger brother of the loving and protective Jen. In Act Two, Jen raises her son John (named for his late uncle) with the same love but becoming to overly protective.

That's the simple premise. But what holds the show together is the depth of emotion it stirs, thanks to the talented performers working in collaboration with director Michael Jones.

Jones has staged the piece in a unit apartment set, but keep the action fluid so it never becomes static. As Jen, Stephanie Roth has several chances to dazzle us with her powerful voice. Kyle Blair brings a sweetness and simplicity to the role of John having without ever becoming cloying. As terrific as they are individually, when they team up the fireworks really begin. As with any family they have their good times and bad times but more than anything else they have each other.

If Tom Greenwald's book never quite delves deep enough and if Andrew Lippa's music, while pleasant never quite delivers a knockout punch, it is all of one clothe and makes for a solid launching pad for the performers.

The opening night audience twice called the cast back for another bow and a deserved one too.

JOHN AND JEN continues at the Walmer Centre Theatre, 188 Lowther Avenue, until Saturday Feb 11. Tickets are $27-30 and may be purchased by calling 416-927-7880.