Okay... first review. (Although, now that I've prefaced this with those words, I KNOW someone is going to beat me to it...) Anyway...
"The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown" is a story about growing up and finding oneself, even if that means sacrificing comfortability and normalcy. Samathan Brown is a senior in high school- she has two loving parents, a best friend, Kelly, and a loving boyfriend, Adam. All of the characters are stereotypes of themselves to illustrate Sam's discontent with her mundane existence. (At the beginning of the show, Sam attempts to pass off a fictional drama as her life for the audience because she feels that her real life is simply not that interesting.)
All of these people surrounding Sam have great influence over her life, and she realizes throughout the course of the piece that the things that THEY want for her might not be the things that she wants for herself. In the end, Sam is forced to make a choice- cater to the wants of others and follow a future that is clear and well thought-out (not by her, however), or take a risk, choose the existence that SHE wants, and never look back. In the end, she DOES risk everything, and the message to the audience is clear: Don't settle for discontent or even NORMALCY. Go after the things in life what you want. Look to others for encouragement, but make your own decisions.
I'll start my review by mentioning the very, very fine cast. Celia Keenan-Bolger (who is going to be appearing in the upcoming Broadway debut of "Spelling Bee"), who plays the title character, is simply phenomenal. She plays the role of Samatha Brown to perfection. Her acting is refreshingly genuine. All of her inflections are ridiculously appropriate for the character. Her voice gorgeous and dynamic. She really can't be on a Broadway stage soon enough.
Alison Fraser, who plays Sam's mother, didn't necessarily have the vocal stamina for her portion of the score. Her singing was adequate and nothing more. HOWEVER, Fraser's comedic timing is just wonderful, and she really shines on the acting front. Very, very good characterization. She was probably the best actor on the stage this evening.
John Herrera, who plays Sam's father, is probably the weakest link in the cast. He isn't bad by a long shot, but he doesn't seem to try to make anything of the material other than the most basic, superficial character choices. His singing is nothing to write home about, either.
Sara Chase, who plays Kelly, Sam's best friend, is adequate in the role. Her characterization was well-done, and she is a powerful singer (perhaps a little rough around the edges). I got the feeling that she'd be great after working on the part for a little while longer.
Finally, there is Michael Arden, who plays Adam, Sam's boyfriend. Arden is a powerhouse singer... The only complaint that I have about him is the fact that, when he sings, he always sounds like he is portraying the same character. He uses the same inflections and money notes in EVERYTHING he sings, and it gets a bit tiresome after a while. I digress, though. That's more of a nitpick than anything else. His acting was very good. His character is one that I think could easily be overacted... and Arden walked that fine line deftly. Like his counterpart, Keenan-Bolger, he is very genuine, and that greatly enhances "Samatha Brown"'s material.
Now, let me address the story. The book, overall, is very strong. There are some shaky bits, some dialogue that seems contrived, but the message of the show definitely comes through. The relationships between the characters and the influence that they have on one another (an extremely important factor in the central theme of the show) are explored well enough. The show's concept is also executed nicely- Sam complains at the beginning of the show that her life is mundane and uninteresting, and yet the musical constructed around this boring life is engaging and fun.
My only real complaints about the book lie in the fact that it plays up the characters' stereotypes a bit too much... For instance, Kelly is the typical blonde "Clueless" best friend, Adam is the not-too-bright but well-intentioned boyfriend, the mother is the typical overprotective parent, etc. There is a real danger of these stereotypes overshadowing the actual complexity of the characters... While the sterotypes are necessary, it is equally important that these characters be realistic, relatable people for the story's message to be fully fleshed-out for the audience.
Finally, there is Brian Lowdermilk's score. Very, very good. Can't say enough good things about it. The tunes are so complex yet so catchy. His music has a unique quality- it is contemporary without crossing over into the mainstream sound. There are lots of memorable numbers from this evening's show, including Arden's hilarious "Proposal", the confrontation between mother and daughter about sexuality over oatmeal cookies, and a song about a disastrous driving lesson. This comedy is perfectly intertwined with other numbers that are beautiful and deeply moving... wonderful, poignant ballads that filled the tiny stage space with rich singing. The score was definitely the most refined aspect of "Samantha Brown".
I'm so glad that I had the chance to witness this reading. There was a TON of potential in the show.
"Goodness is rewarded. Hope is guaranteed. Laughter builds strong bones. Right will intercede. Things you've said I often find I need, indeed. I see the world through your eyes. What's black and white is colorized. The knowledge you most dearly prized I'm eager to employ. You said that life has infinite joys."
Updated On: 9/20/05 at 09:47 PM
