Chicago Critic

Book and Lyrics by Sean Grennan

Music by Leah Okimoto

Directed & Choreographed by Rachel Rockwell

Produced by Noble Fool Theatricals

At Pheasant Run Resort

Actor’s showcase is an audience’s delight

Married Alive! is a four person chamber musical revue that is an audience delight. It celebrates marital bliss and blisters featuring two couples: Erin (Megan Long) and Paul (Justin Berkobien) a pair of naive newlyweds and Ron (Matthew R. Jones) and Diane (Anne Gunn) a mature pair of ‘oldyweds.’

Married Alive! is a series of sketches mostly sung through that moves from the wedding to empty nest, to old age in a light-hearted and often funny spoof of marriage in contemporary times. From the “Stupid in Love” song we get the feeling that the newbie are wide-eyed in love (or lust) and the oldies are jaded and bittersweet.

“Fly to Me” is a smart love song that speaks to the young couples’ conflict between careers and being apart. The “We Owe Money” attacks the wives penchant to spend. These are among the score that garners laughs as the lack of communication and the difference between men and women in a marriage is cutely played out. Married Alive! demonstrates many of the highs and lows of married life.

Matthew R. Jones and Anne Gunn worked hard and delivered many terrific songs and deft comedy. Justin Berkobien and Megan Long gave cute comic turns and nailed their songs with aplomb. While not much of the material covers new ground, Married Alive! offers funny light entertainment that audiences enjoy. Many folks enjoy this ode to ‘stupid love.’ Rachel Rockwell’s tight directed and quick paced production enhanced the material. This show is fun.

Recommended

Tom Williams

Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments

Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast

Date Reviewed: August 22, 2009

This review also posted on http://mytheaterclub.com/articles.php

At Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St, St.Charles, IL, call 630-584-6342, www.noblefool.org, Thursday & Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 5 & 8:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, special Thursday matinee at 2 pm on Sept. 3, running time is 2 hours with intermission, through October 31. 2009