Review: ROOMS, a Rock Romance (Broken Nose Theatre)

By Chicagotheaterbeat @chitheaterbeat

  
  
ROOMS: a rock romance  

By Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon
Directed by Benjamin Brownson
Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee (map)
thru Aug 11  |  tickets: $30   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read entire review
  

  

  

A fun-loving, flirtatious New Wave romance

     

  

Broken Nose Theatre presents

  

ROOMS: a rock romance

Review by Katy Walsh 

W.I.T.!  The character Monica keeps announcing ‘Whatever It Takes‘ to her cohort Ian in their climb from obscurity to fame.  Life imitates art as Matt Deitchman (Ian) and Hillary Marren (Monica) certainly do whatever it took to actualize this play.  Even with the cranked Collaboraction Theatre air conditioning inside, the steamy 97 degree temps outside made the room for the ROOMS feel sticky.  Yet, that didn’t stop Deitchman and Marren as they keep their whirlwind romance spinning at high speed.  They dance.  They rock.  They put on more clothes!  Conditions weren’t completely favorable to fall in love but they did… and we did too.

The opera-like show uses 25 songs in 90 minutes to illustrate a relationship.  A guitar player meets a singer.  He’s a composer.  She’s a lyricist.  They decide to get their punk-rock collaboration on. The love story is told through love songs.  It’s a musical about music.  The show, written by Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon, was an off Broadway hit nominated for multiple prestigious awards.  

Under the well-paced direction of Benjamin Brownson, the plot unfolds like watching a time-lapsed version of a flower’s life from seed to stalk to bloom to wilt to seed. Brownson uses a single door orbiting around the stage to impressively show the various rooms the couple step into.  The door is part of the choreographed progression of the pair’s courtship dance.  Deitchman and Marren display a natural synergy.  Individually they soar.  Deitchman is powerfully haunting in belting out ‘never going to to leave this room again’ in the song “Fear of Flying.” Marren is unforgettable in the beautiful, bittersweet ballad “Happiness.”   Even though they each get a poignant solo, they are at their best in full-on, punked out duets.

The always entertaining and energetic Music Director Austin Cook directs the 5-piece band from his piano.  Upon arrival, the band is establishing themselves with head-nodding, body-swaying, toe-tapping, good time music.  Between the band and the air conditioning, some of the lyrics are hard to understand – but frankly, I wouldn’t have wanted either to be turned down.  

ROOMS: a rock romance is a fun-loving, flirtatious frolic.  It’s the perfect way to jam out while falling in love.

  

Rating: ★★★½

  

  

ROOMS: a rock romance continues through August 11th at Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee (map), with performances Thursdays-Sundays at 8pm.  Tickets are $30, and are available online through BrownPaperTickets.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at BrokenNoseTheatre.com.  (Running time: 90 minutes, NO intermission)

Photos by Taryn Goodge

     

artists

cast

Hillary Marren (Monica), Matt Deitchman (Ian), Rachel Morgan, Scott Johnston (understudies)

cast

Austin Cook (keyboard), Geoff King Luk (lead guitar), Samuel Brownson (rhythm guitar), Chuck Zayas (bass), Matthew Sitz (percussion).

behind the scenes

Benjamin Brownson (director), Austin Cook (music director), Paul Scott Goodman (music, lyrics), Miriam Goodman (book), Ellen Willett (production manager), Kristine Larimore (stage manager), Brian Kallaher (sound design), John Wilson (scenic design), Mac Vaughey (lighting design), Jeff Shields (props design), Rachel Parent (costume design), Tim McCallister (technical director), Kendra Kargenian (dialect coach), Taryn Goodge (photos)

13-0713