AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

It's impossible to miss the sense of recession-era austerity that hovers around the new two-character Musical The Story of My Life. One's struck by the show's minimalism upon entering the Booth Theatre on Broadway, where the show opened last night. On stage, sitting on top of a low white platform are a white table and chair and an equally gleaming lectern (Robert Brill's spare scenic design ultimately proves to effectively sculptural, particularly as lit by Ken Billington and Paul Toben). A small musical is nothing new on Broadway – witness [title of show] earlier this season – and scale is not directly proportional to artistic success. Unfortunately, though charming, "Story," with a book by Brian Hill and music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, proves to be exceptionally slight, a series of vignettes about the friendship that begins in first grade between Thomas (Will Chase) and Alvin (Malcolm Gets).

Though in early childhood, the two are perfectly matched – their friendship begins in first grade when Thomas has come to school dressed as Clarence, the angel from It's a Wonderful Life, and Alvin has come as his recently deceased mother, dressed in robe and curlers. But as they grow, Alvin's unwillingness to conform essentially matches Thomas' increasing desire to fit in. After their high school graduation, the guys separate. Ironically, Alvin follows a path similar to George Bailey's in the Frank Capra classic, staying home to look after a sick father and the family bookstore. Thomas goes to school and achieves success as a writer, his passion fueled early on because of his friendship with Alvin. All of these details – and more – come out in flashbacks as Alvin tries to act as a muse for his friend, who sadly, is attempting to write Alvin's eulogy.

There is an undeniable pull to the tales – one would need to be pretty hard-hearted to not respond to grade-schoolers' antics (particularly with Austin McKinnis' and Alex Maizus' sweet voiceovers) or to the beginnings of the rift that pulls Alvin and Thomas apart as they go through puberty. Similarly, the poignancy that exists simply from the fact that Alvin has died before he and his friend could work through their estrangement is inescapable.

But pulling at theatergoers' heart-strings only goes so far, and ultimately, Hill's string of tales never truly compels. Yes, there are hints at what might have caused the final rift between the two, and a lingering question about what might have caused Alvin's death at a relatively young age, but the questions that are raised never combine to create the sort of dramatic tension that pulls theatergoers inextricably into the action.

Throughout Chase and Gets deliver winning portrayals of the characters – at all ages. Both deliver Bartram's songs, sometimes pleasant, pop-sounding numbers and at other times tunes that bring to mind work by composers like Stephen Sondheim and William Finn, with passion and heartfelt conviction. Individually, the men turn in performances that are filled with delightful details, and as Alvin, Gets' open face, gleaming smile and almost complete innocence combine to make a truly winning performance.

However enjoyable both men's work is, though, it is not enough to bolster "Story" beyond what is really just a slim theatrical volume of reminiscences, a diversion, but nothing more, for tough times.

---- Andy Propst

The Story of My Life plays at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Performances are Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8PM, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at 3PM. Tickets are $66.50 - $110.00 and can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. Further information is available online at www.TheStoryOfMyLife.com