
Photo Credit: Anita Alberto
Bring On Tomorrow Co’s production of 13 : The Musical, now playing at Waterfront Theatre, brilliantly brings back all the feelings of adolescents. We’ve all been haunted by the spirits of teen angst but thankfully it’s much more enjoyable watching the trials and tribulations when it’s happening to someone else.
The company, made completely of teenaged actors, bring to life Dan Elish’s story of Evan Goldman. Ripped from the comfort of his New York City life and plunked into Appleton, Indiana just as he turns 13 years old. With his Bar Mitzvah plans now thrown into array, Evan must balance the tricky teen worlds of popularity and friendship.
Graham Verchere brings Evan to the stage with a believable awkward innocence of a boy becoming a man, or at least trying to navigate his way to teenhood, with a little help from his friends. Patrice, literally the girl next door, played beautifully by Julia Maclean, and Archie, Julian Lokash, plays the ‘boy with the terminal illness’ not to be laughed at but laughed with. While every character has moments of light and dark the powerhouse performance of Michelle Creber as Lucy the main manipulator of the gang, is a girl everyone remembers from school as is Brett, played by Jason Sakaki, the quintessential jock.
Just like back in school, the girls have developed earlier than the boys. Most of these female performers have rich powerful voices while the adolescent boys bring back those memories and blushes of the occasional cracks and squeaks when you least expect them, bringing even more reality to Jason Robert Brown’s songs. Chris Adams direction and Nicol Spinola’s choreography work hand in hand to juggle the large ensemble as they recreate the energy of the Dan Quayle Junior High School student body. Christopher David Gauthier’s simple set design makes quick changes to reveal all the halls and rooms of the school.
While Bring On Tomorrow Co’s 13 : The Musical ends on October 8th, if you have the chance get out and see it. Relive the comedy and tragedy of being 13, there’s sure to be a character who reminds you of someone you went to school with, if not yourself.