At: Chicago Musical Theatre Festival at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: 773-871-3000 or cmtf.org; $20 per show. Runs through: Aug. 24 ( Cashier ); Aug. 25 ( Planted ) Aug. 26 ( Pen )
I probably shouldn't be writing this triple review of Planted, Pen and The Transcivility of Albert Cashier, three new LGBTQ shows in Underscore Theatre Company's 2016 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Even though the shows' creators and producers allowed me in to critique, two productions ( Planted and Albert Cashier ) requested to be labeled as "workshops in development."
Nonetheless, it's startling to compare and contrast the three by levels of completion. Albert Cashier is essentially a reading with seated cast members at music stands unsurely reciting from unfinished scripts and scores. Meanwhile, the script-free actors of Planted and Pen offer up emotionally sung and well-staged performances that almost make you forget the minimal production values.
One wishes that Permovio Productions' Albert Cashier was closer to being finished. Its timeliness is essential with several states fighting the federal government over so-called "bathroom laws" that ostracize transgender people.
Book writer Jay Paul Deratany insightfully finds an amazing figure from U.S. history—the Civil War soldier Albert Cashier—to point out the injustice of forcing people into rigid gender roles assigned at birth. Having trans songwriter-performer Joe Stevens aboard to adapt period songs from the era is also a step in the right direction.
But the script and song integration need a lot of trimming and finessing to make the show's message a little less ham-fisted in highlighting the many modern parallels. Albert Cashier would also benefit from an ensemble that was more vocally assured.
Pen certainly grabs attention with its unconventional premise: a love story between a recently dumped ad executive named Paul ( Shaun Baer ) who starts a correspondence relationship with an imprisoned convict named Rod ( Michael Owen Achenbach ). Pen collaborators Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro certainly know how to get laughs amid the romantic drama and quirky supporting characters, though some basic motivational questions linger—especially with the wide chasms in class and physicality between Paul's twink ex-lover, Grayson ( Paul Michael Thomson ), and the imposing Rod.
The songs in Pen provide a heightened insight to the characters feelings, yet one can't shake the notion that the show could be more dramatically intense without the music. With more bottled-up emotions, Pen could be more of a psychological or manipulative minefield between Paul and Rod.
Of the three shows I saw, Rogue Elephant Productions' Planted is the most ready to be expanded into a full-fledged production ( take notice Pride Films and Plays or About Face Theatre ). Christopher Pazdernik and Jeff Bouthiette's theatrical song cycle about modern dating and relationships in the gay community is both funny and touching, especially with the powerhouse voices of the diverse ensemble featuring Vasily Deris, Max DeTogne, Cisco Lopez, Conor McGarry, Jerome Riley and Korey White.
Sure, Planted could use a better title, while a few songs like "Too Far to Hear" and "Hot and Cold" could be more dramatically specific. But in terms of confidence and self-assured swagger, Planted is the furthest along in growing up to the next level.
