Review by Ron Fassler . . .
In 1966, children’s book author Stoo Hample, along with Eric Marshall, co-edited a small volume of letters to God written by children, aptly titled Children’s Letters to God. It has been in print ever since and even spawned a couple of sequels. In 2004, Hample wrote the book for a musical version performed off-Broadway by a cast of children with music by David Evans and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen. Now, twenty-two years later, it’s being repurposed by having the cast made up of adults (though still children), adding another layer to the openness and sincerity of its source material. Performed for two nights only in a staged reading at the Laurie Beechman Theatre’s cabaret setting, five performers give it their all, the result being a splendid and thought-provoking entertainment.
The writing is smart, refreshing and never coy. The conceit of creating characters out of whole cloth really works, framing the letters within the context of conversations kids generally have with one another. It’s also a bright idea to have not made this a revue and to take the challenge of creating at least some semblance of story with characters who can relate to one another as people and not fellow performers. It makes a big difference. And religion is not the sole thrust of interest; a natural direction other writers might have gone with. Mostly the songs deal with open questions which don’t come with easy answers. Over the course of its sixty-five-minute running time we meet an eclectic group of kids that aren’t easy to pin with labels, i.e., the nerd, the ditz, etc. Farah Alvin, Jenn Gambatese, Ryan Silverman, Pablo Francisco Torres, and Jason SweetTooth Williams, resist going for anything cloying and score major points by just being themselves. If you’re thinking You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown or The 25th Annual Putnam Counting Spelling Bee, in which adults are cast as children, you’re on the right track. However, it’s testimony to these actors’ instincts—under the clever direction of Don Stephenson—that they don’t do funny walks or make silly faces to convey youth. As Hamlet instructed the players, “Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you trippingly on the tongue.” ‘Nuff said.
Evans’s music has a William Finn quality to it (and not just due to a Spelling Bee connection), which is intended as a compliment. By that I mean, tricky stuff that is still comforting to the ear with a delightful Broadway sound that is missing from too many scores these days (its being written over twenty years ago probably has something to do with that). Cohen’s lyrics, which are not adapted from the children’s letters directly, tell some wonderfully individualized stories that often surprise. And certain stories pop up later (a dead turtle plays into this), which is very appealing.
Cohen’s lyrics are simple yet intricate; not easy to pull off. They can also be very funny as with “Are You Happy with Me?,” in which the character of Theo (Jason SweetTooth Williams) rhymes “grim sports” with “gym shorts.” Personally, that’s highly relatable as was the lyric “I’ll never be voted most athletic—more like most pathetic!” Religion isn’t entirely left out of the picture, with “A Simple Holiday Song” a lament over how so many holidays compete with one another every December. “It’s not easy blending our voices/when we are offered so many choices!”
Although everyone had a script in their hands, confidence reigned. This is a terrific ensemble. There was also tight musicianship under the direction of Lawrence Yurman (piano), with Ray Kilday (bass).
There is, quite sensibly, a hat tip to God in the closing song, “I’ll Know”:
I’ve heard people sneer
If God is really here
He’s an underachiever.
Well, this is what I’ve found
If they take a look around . . .
They’ll be a believer.
You’ll be a believer too if and when some smart producer takes on Children’s Letters to God leading to a full-out production.
Children’s Letters to God played the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd Street, NYC on March 29th and 30th. For information on future programming, please click here.
Photos by Ron Fassler.
