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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Is There LIfe After High School? Also see Gil's review of Tiny Beautiful Things
Rather than following a traditional plot, the musical (score by Craig Carnella, book by Jeffrey Kindley, and based on the novel by Ralph Keyes) is structured as a series of monologues and songs, with a cast of nine playing multiple characters who reminisce about their teenage years. The show explores many themes that touch upon high school days, including social pressures, teen angst, first loves, missed opportunities, lingering regrets, and future aspirations as well as dealing with social cliques, suffering through gym class, the prom, and high school reunions. While there really isn't any new ground covered that hasn't already been explored in countless other TV shows, films, and stage plays that look back at the past and focus specifically on high school, Carnelia's score features a gorgeous mix of story songs that have sharp lyrics that resonate, and Kindley's book includes numerous scenes that focus on looking back at moments that linger in our memories. The characters are mostly stereotypical ones we all know well: the jock, the cheerleader, the nerd, the bully, and the social outcast. Yet Kindley and Carnelia manage to show that there is more beneath the exterior of these individuals, and the experiences, while varied, are weaved together to create a cohesive look at growing up. It's emotionally moving yet also extremely funny at times. The show had a brief Broadway run in 1982 and one in the West End in 1986. Under Richard Vines' keen and caring direction, the production flows smoothly from one vignette to the next. The pacing allows each moment to land effectively, whether it's a lighthearted recollection or a deeply personal confession. The cast transitions smoothly between different personas while shifting between humor and vulnerability with their different characters embodying different perspectives on the high school experience. In doing so, it makes the production engaging while ensuring every audience member finds something to connect with. All are good storytellers with decent to very good singing voices under Tiffany Martinez's bright music direction. While the show is an ensemble piece, Emilio Cress shines brightly in the comical and dramatic characters he plays and he also leads the opening number, "The Kid Inside," with a bright and strong singing voice. I saw Cress in several youth productions and it's nice to see him in adult roles now with the same strength and assuredness he displayed a decade ago when he was a teenager. Howie Johnson provides much of the humor in the piece and his comic delivery is great, particularly in a scene he shares with Zach Connaghan about an after-school fight that shows how strong both actors are. Laura Vines hits all of the correct emotional beats in her "Diary of a Homecoming Queen" solo to make it an effective act one closer. Lori Camarata is wonderful as an always-upbeat woman who was a cheerleader in high school but is now suffering through a major life event. GinaKay Howell and Sheridan Wood are both great delivering one of the shows most moving numbers, "Fran and Janie," about two once inseparable friends who find each other again years later at their high school reunion; Howell also has a wonderfully moving monologue about how she was a late bloomer, and Wood and Cress deliver the humorous duet, "I'm Glad You Didn't Know Me," about how they are happy that their current partner didn't see how awkward they were in high school. Marisa Tualla and Garrett Veneble round out the cast with both getting a few moments to shine and show off their strong connection to the material and the characters they portray. Vines' staging on his simple but effective set allows the emotional core of the show to take center stage without any unnecessary business that gets in the way. His costume design uses a parade of changing outfits that tie into the stories being told as well as giving a good sense of the wide range of individuals depicted in the show. Rebecca Ulbrich's lighting is fantastic, drawing your attention to focus on the appropriate actor to make each moment resonate with either humor or emotion. Is There Life After High School? is a charming and nostalgic musical that reminds us of the high school experiences that linger in our memories and that shaped who we become. With a good cast, Ghostlight Theatre's production is a humorous, heartfelt and nostalgic look at a time in our lives and a reminder that while you may get over something that happened in your past, you also almost never forget it. Is There LIfe After High School? runs through February 16, 2025, at Ghostlight Theatre, 13541 West Camino Del Sol, Sun City West AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.ghostlightaz.com or by call 623-777-9717 Director/ Set Design / Costume Design: Richard Vines Cast: (in alphabetical order) |
