Ordinary Days, the current production at The Black Box Theatre, is no ordinary show. It is Adam Gwon’s sung-through musical – meaning there is very little spoken dialog – that focuses on how ordinary days can become extraordinary through chance encounters and shared experiences. It is set in New York City and centers around four main characters: Claire who is wrestling with the aftermath of a previous relationship, Jason, Claire’s boyfriend, who is struggling to define their current relationship, Deb, a feisty, take-no-prisoners graduate student who is scrapping her way at completing her thesis only to lose her notes on the subway, and Warren, a quirky, sometimes annoyingly optimistic “gopher” to an artist who is currently incarcerated for painting inspirational graffiti on multiple buildings in the city.
Warren opens the show with “One by One by One” as he is ignored by passers-by while distributing flyers to promote the artist to the public. Jason and Claire have decided to co-habit and Claire is angst-ridden making space for Jason’s things in the apartment as well as – we come to learn – making space for Jason in her life. Deb is searching for more than just her thesis notes but she’s not sure exactly what she’s searching for.
Jason comes to the conclusion that, despite some conflict, Claire is THE ONE and proposes. Claire accepts, but her suppressed demons emerge causing her to instantly question that decision. Ironically, Warren finds Deb’s thesis notes, contacts her, and suggests they meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art so that he can return them to her. They are complete opposites. Warren is sunshine and unicorns and Deb is the rain on Warren’s parade but they somehow “click” anyway.
And that’s all I’ll tell about the plot because I don’t want to spoil your enjoyment to watch it unfold. I will tell you that the songs are delightful, the acting is phenomenal, and you will leave the theatre feeling oh-so-good.
Director Shelly Cooper has assembled a celestial ensemble cast that includes Bradley Robert Jensen as Warren. I know him to be the fabulous costume designer for Circa ’21, a gifted playwright, an actor and now a singer and although he isn’t as strong vocally as the rest of the cast, it only enhances his character. Jensen imbues Warren with a cheerful lovability that just made me smile every time he was on.
Kira Rangel as Deb is saucy and sassy and gives a meteoric performance. Evan Gagliardo as Jason and Sarah Lounsberry as Claire are so genuine and good together you’d swear they are a real-life couple.
As good as this show is I did feel the piano accompaniment was a bit too loud and drowned out the vocals during intimate moments in the songs and I lost some of the lyrics.
But…oh…what an ending. I walked out of the theatre on cloud nine. Hey, why don’t you join me up here?
Ordinary Days continues at The Black Box Theatre, 1623 5th Avenue in Moline, August 14, 15, and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and August 17 at 2:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.