Chuck (Jeremy Cohen), Pasquale (Nick Spangler) and Ubazz (Steve French) sing backup harmony as Barbara (Rebecca Blouin) declares her womanhood in the a cappella musical Avenue X, Jan. 13 – Feb. 7, 2010 on the Alliance Stage.
It’s doo-wop all over again. This vocal-based rhythm and blues music genre takes center stage at Avenue X, the current production at the Alliance Theatre. You won’t find any instruments here, other than the strong voices of the eight characters, who portray residents of Brooklyn in the 1960s, where efforts to unite differing cultures have unintended consequences.
Let’s just say there aren’t always happy endings, and their voices harmonize better than members of a family and neighborhood kids from different backgrounds. I especially enjoyed the teased-up hairdos and girlish laments of Rebecca Blouin. This former Miss America pageant contestant now teaches vocal lessons and yoga in addition to her theater roles. Fans of last season’s Jesus Christ Superstar will enjoy hearing Lawrence Clayton and J.D. Webster again.
I loved the music and the harmonies, and yes, the reminder that the good old days weren’t always so great.
The play runs through February 7.
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