Front Row Centre reviews THE STORY OF MY LIFE

 

 

Not since RAGTIME opened here 10 years ago has a new musical come along that so thoroughly and entertainingly explores its subject matter. THE STORY OF MY LIFE is a love story, but one with unexpected turns.

 

  

The score offers music that induces all the right moods and lyrics that explore every corner of each character's psychology while remaining fresh yet colloquial.  It's a musical with a lot of music, but the songs perfectly match the dialogue, and often the score flows seamlessly between the two elements.

  

I do hope that the cast get a chance to record this score. A cast recording would help ensure future productions.

  

And what a cast it is: Brent Carver gives another stellar performance (in a long line of stellar performances) as Thomas, the man called upon to prepare a eulogy for his childhood best friend. As he prepares it, he revisits their years of friendship and final years of estrangement.  Carver, as always, sings with a sweet simple voice and enunciates each lyric layering subtext upon subtext.

  

Jeffrey Kuhn plays his friend, Alvin, with goofy boyish charm. It speaks volumes that many of Alvin's idiosyncrasies, which in lesser hands could grow downright irritating, remain refreshingly endearing. 

  

What is all the more remarkable is that these two performers are on stage virtually the entire time, remaining focussed and committed to telling the story and detailing the characters. As a result, they are saying "hello" and "goodbye" and your heart is aching.

  

They are given fine support by a three-piece ensemble (that sounds more than twice its size) under the sensitive direction of Marek Norman who keeps it in perfect balance.

  

Director Michael Bush has not only helped shape the empathetic performances, he has worked out an ingenious staging that moves with crisp precision, shifting effortlessly in time and place with the most simple adjustment of sets and lighting.

  

Glen Davidson's snow-covered stage set design takes in a miniature village with books everywhere.  Since Alvin's father owns a bookstore and books form one of the early bonds between the two boys, it is appropriate but not forced. Davidson's lighting design unobtrusively draws attention to whet needs to be highlighted without ever drawing attention to itself.

  

Is there any place where the show could be improved? Well, it is perhaps just a little too long, and could lose maybe 10 minutes through pacing and some minor trimming. The score, though sounding all of the same piece could maybe use a little more variety. On the whole, it's near perfection and the opening night audience was spellbound, remaining rapt in attention until the final, well-deserved, standing ovation.

  

I called the show a love story, yet even though the two main characters are both male, this is not a "gay-themed" play. It's a love story, pure and simple, that reaches a sad yet inevitable conclusion. If you care about musical theatre, you owe it to yourself to see this remarkable show.

  

  

  

THE STORY OF MY LIFE plays at CanStage's Berkeley Street theatre until December 9.  Performances are Monday thru Saturday at 8 PM with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets ($20-$55 with pay-what-you-can seats on Monday evenings) are available at www.canstage.com or by calling 416.368.3110

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