{"id":107080,"date":"2024-02-27T14:09:13","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T22:09:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=107080"},"modified":"2024-02-27T14:09:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T22:09:13","slug":"a-little-more-alive-at-meadow-brook-theatre-rochester-hills-mi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/a-little-more-alive-at-meadow-brook-theatre-rochester-hills-mi\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cA Little More Alive\u201d at Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester Hills MI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 <\/p>\n

Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (Member, American Theatre Critics Association)<\/em><\/p>\n

and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Sean Carter Photography<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

(seated) Noah Barnes, Amber Hurst Martin (standing) Liam Fennecken, Ron Williams<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Secrets Revealed in \u201cA Little More Alive\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Meadow Brook Theatre\u2019s latest offering marks the Michigan premiere of \u201cA Little More Alive\u201d, a 2014 musical dramedy about a family secret revealed at a mother\u2019s funeral that could change forever the lives of two brothers and their father.<\/p>\n

American actor\/writer Nick Blaemire<\/strong> created \u201cA Little More Alive\u201d while he was still in his 20s, after the one-two punch of appearing in John Waters\u2019 \u201cCry Baby\u201d and his own one-night wonder, the rock musical \u201cGlory Days\u201d, in 2008. Blaemire went on to star in the 2016 revival of Jonathan Larson\u2019s \u201cTick Tick\u2026Boom\u201d off Broadway (Larson had achieved fame in 1994 with his revolutionary musical \u201cRent\u201d, transforming musical theatre, before his untimely death in 1996). \u201cA Little More Alive\u201d had its premiere in April 2014 at the Kansas City Repertory Company. Larson\u2019s influence is everywhere throughout the show, from its non-rhyming lyrics to its contemporary free-form musical style to its creative storytelling that includes home movies projected onto an upstage wall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Liam Fennecken, Noah Barnes<\/p><\/div>\n

Maggie, a wife and mother, has died too young, and her grieving husband, Gene, and their two twenty-something sons, Nate and Jeremy, gather with friends at the family home for her funeral. There\u2019s tension in the air between the estranged brothers \u2013 rudderless Nate and workaholic Jeremy (nicknamed \u201cGerm\u201d). The opening number, \u201cPot at a Funeral\u201d, pretty much sums up Nate\u2019s attitude towards life. Jeremy can\u2019t wait to get away, back to work and his girlfriend. But letters written by Maggie turn up and reveal something that rewrites every memory the boys have of their mother, all preserved in the home movies they watch after the funeral. This revelation ultimately brings everyone closer, and brings forgiveness and insight back into their lives.<\/p>\n

MBT veteran Ron Williams<\/strong> delivers a powerful performance in song and movement as Gene, a father in denial. Newcomer Noah Barnes<\/strong> possesses an outstanding voice and real authority in the role of hard-driving Jeremy. Liam Fennecken<\/strong> as the depressed and aimless Nate infuses his character with likeability and empathy. Rounding out the excellent cast is Amber Hurst Martin<\/strong> as hospice worker Lizzie, Melanie Frasca<\/strong> as Molly and last but not least, Katie Johnson<\/strong> as the vivacious Maggie (as seen in the home movies).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Melanie Frasca, Liam Fennecken, Noah Barnes<\/p><\/div>\n

Director Travis Walter<\/strong> puts all of his creative talents to work in keeping the 95 minutes (no intermission) moving along. There are nice touches in staging, with moveable set pieces forming different rooms, a basement and even another house.<\/p>\n

Even with all this amazing talent assembled and brought to the fore, it struggles to overcome the inherent weakness in the material. The plot seems thin and undeveloped, and the music is repetitive, with many songs sounding almost the same. This show could possibly be more effective as a shorter one-act, with the running time and musical numbers cut in half.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a pleasant enough show, well-executed and worth seeing for the marvelous cast, director and stagecraft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When: Now through March 10, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $37 to $46<\/strong><\/p>\n

Where: Meadow Brook Theatre at Wilson Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oakland University<\/strong><\/p>\n

378 Meadow Brook Rd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rochester Hills, MI 48309<\/strong><\/p>\n

(248) 377-3300<\/strong><\/p>\n

www.mbtheatre.com<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Special Note: As COVID-19 is a constantly changing situation, MBT will be monitoring and adhering to the guidance given by the CDC, the State of Michigan, the Actor\u2019s Equity Association, and Oakland University. Check the Meadow Brook Theatre website for the latest information on efforts to keep everyone safe.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This production is made possible through the generous support of the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, the Shubert Foundation and the Meadow Brook Theatre Guild.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meadow Brook Theatre is a professional theatre located on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. MBT is a nonprofit cultural institution serving southeast Michigan for more than 56 years.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (Member, American Theatre Critics Association) and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle) Photos courtesy of Sean Carter Photography \u00a0 Secrets…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":2.9,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-107080","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"