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    Theatre Review: Gallery Players’ 13 Has Charm to Spare

    Gallery Players closes 2016 with recent Broadway musical 13. The ebullient score by Jason Robert Brown shines in this production directed by Ryan Scarlata with assistant director Emma Lou Andrews and choreographed by Scarlata and Katie Wagner.

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    The paint-by-numbers book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn follows Evan Goldman (Neil Kalef) who gets transported in the wake of his parents’ divorce from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Appleton, Indiana, right before his bar mitzvah. His attempts to ingratiate himself with what passes for “cool kids” in Appleton, Brett (Toby Hattemer), Lucy (Ruth Buergenthal), and Kendra (Olivia Horlocker), goes as poorly as you would expect. Along the way, Evan sells out the people who believe in him, Archie (Keegan Sells) and Patrice (Cherish Myers) then has to win them back. The book is almost beside the point here; it’s a thin framework for getting from one set piece to the next.

    Those set pieces, however, are remarkably well executed with a cast digging into catchy, glittering songs even a confirmed cynic like your correspondent had stuck in his head on the way home. The orchestra of two keyboards, two guitars, drums, and bass under the baton of music director Allan Finkelstein gives heft and nuance to these gorgeous pop riffs. Cherish Myers is a revelation as “town outcast” Patrice, bringing a remarkable sweetness and power to songs like “The Lamest Place in the World” and “Good Enough” and, more than a strong foil, believably guiding Kalef’s Evan toward being a functioning human being. As expected, the villain has the best songs in the show, and Ruth Buergenthal’s Lucy makes the most out of “Opportunity” and as the gossip ringleader on “It Can’t Be True.” Toby Hattemer’s Brett wisely includes some insecurity and nuance in the stereotypical jock role with great chemistry and comic interplay between Brett and his stooges Eddie (Jackson Bounds) and Malcolm (Nate Eisenberg), particularly on the hilarious take on a Beck slow-jam “Hey Kendra.”

    Scarlata and Andrews’ direction understands what’s good here and what should be glazed over and their frantic, intense direction has the exact energy this show needs. Over the top because being a teenager is over the top but also scaled to human level. Scarlata and Wagner’s choreography is delightful throughout.

    13 runs through December 18 with performances at 7:30 pm on Thursday, 8:00 pm on Saturday, and 2:30 pm on Sunday. For tickets and more info, visit columbusjcc.org.

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    Richard Sanford
    Richard Sanfordhttp://sanfordspeaks.blogspot.com/
    Richard Sanford is a freelance contributor to Columbus Underground covering the city's vibrant theatre scene. You can find him seeking inspiration at a variety of bars, concert halls, performance spaces, museums and galleries.
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