Or, Suzy learns to take the train!

I was in Chicago to do a table read of my musical revue NAKED IN AMERICA (co-written with Greg Silva) and I went to see ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY in Lincolnshire at the Marriott Theatre. The show is written by the wonderful Susan DiLallo (book and lyrics) and Stephen Weiner (music).

I was meeting Susan for dinner first, so I had to figure out how to get up there without paying a fortune for a car. So I was introduced to the joys of Metra, which is sort of like the GO Trains in Toronto. I'm not usually comfortable taking trains in strange cities (I know, I know, I'm neurotic!) but musical theatre was at stake! So I figured out the schedule, the fare, the zone etc. and hi-tailed it down to the Ogilvie Transportation Centre and caught the 4:35pm train out to the suburbs! And they are very nice, air conditioned, double-decker trains complete with a conductor who comes by and picks up your ticket. Both ways set me back a grand total of $6.90! I was very proud of myself.

Susan and I met for dinner before the show and then it was off to my second theatre in the round experience in one week! ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY is playing until September, and that night it was packed. ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY was directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, and stars Kathy Voytko (see my post on CARABOO) as Angie, Jim Weitzer as Vinnie, and Will Swenson as Rocco. The whole cast is terrific.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY is an original musical and what a joy it is. The story (fairytale...) takes place in Hoboken New Jersey 1956 (New Jersey seems to be a popular locale these days, what with JERSEY BOYS and THE WEDDING SINGER!).

From the Program Notes by Artistic Consultant Rick Boynton:

"So welcome to the world of 1956 when pop music was all the rage, the good guys were really good, and the bad guys swaggered with a Runyonesque charm. When life was a little simpler and the thought of believing the unbelievable was a joy to embrace".

I won't give a way the plot, but let me just say it involves love (both unrequited and happy ending love), exchanged identities, disguises, and calzone. In other words, Vinnie loves Angie, Angle is infatuated with Rocco, Rocco is infatuated with himself, and the dance instructor's husband is out to make Rocco an offer he can't refuse. The book is very funny, with lots of broad physical humour as well. The musical numbers are great -- engaging, charming, funny! My favorite continues to be Quando Scungilli.

So if you're in the Chicago area, just hop a train (hey, it's easy!) and go see ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY!

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