Review by Carole Di Tosti
If you had a chance to go back in time to change things, would you risk the potential danger and “bring weapons?” Adapting Derek Connelly’s endearing, titular, indie, sci-fi comedy film (2012) into a musical, with a raw, alternative rock score, and slimmed down plot and themes seems like a no-brainer. That is the path creatives take twelve years later in this indie-rock musical which beautifully skirts the edges of the typical jukebox musical. Safety Not Guaranteed premiered to a young, enthusiastic audience at the BAM Harvey Theatre in Brooklyn, where it runs with no intermission until 20 of October.
Noting the delight of the audience who caught the upbeat vibe, humor, and exuberant energy, it may be that the show will have a future life elsewhere in New York City after it finishes its Brooklyn run.
With book by Nick Blaemire, music and lyrics by Ryan Miller, and directed by Lee Sunday Evans, the sci-fi musical’s plot intrigues. Character Kenneth Calloway’s obsession to change a dire event in his life via time travel, on the surface seems wacko. However, the show’s thematic thrust makes sense. To live life is to have regrets and wish for second chances. Sometimes, with great effort and the right help, second chances can be manifested. The concept for Safety Not Guaranteed lands on this premise and stylizes it with fantastic elements at the conclusion.
Integrating some of the rock band Guster’s songs from the film into the musical, band member Ryan Miller re-imagines old music and lyrics. With them he creates new songs, while exploring how the need to confront regret takes the most wayward, unique path for the determined Kenneth Galloway, superbly played by the hyper kinetic, live-wired Taylor Trensch. Kenneth Galloway’s desire to correct past mistakes using time travel catches fire with others. The notion becomes an ersatz reality for him and Darius (Nneki Obi-Melekwe, the duplicitous reporter who gains a conscience). Even editor Jeff wants to return to the past to forestall aging into hopelessness, and also to meet up with Lizzie, his high school crush.
Like the film, the initial incident and premise are the same. Darius is a cub reporter who is looking to advance her sense of purpose in her droll life (“20 Dollar Sandwiches”). Darius is lured by a strange, classified ad (“Safety Not Guaranteed”). At an assignment meeting with her crass, vapid editor Jeff (played to the obnoxious, self-serving hilt by Pomme Koch), Darius suggests she wants to investigate the identity of the ad writer then submit her findings in an article. Jeff offers to go on lookout with her and brings along shy, geeky co-worker Arnau (Rohan Kymal). All are curious about the mental state of the advertiser. Weirdly, the adventurer wants a companion to time travel with and bring weapons, since “safety is not guaranteed.”
Payment is promised, but that’s not the “come on” that interests Darius and Jeff. We discover their intentions a number of songs later, after both stake out Kenneth at the PO boxes where he goes to pick up the ad responses. As the “journalists” hide and watch, they find Kenneth in a winter hat with flaps. He’s twerky, a possible Unibomber-type (“Jankholes”), who in conspiracy theory fashion condemns leaders as “morons” and their followers as “sheep.” In Kenneth’s estimation only the “brave” will want to take a leap in time and answer his ad.
As he leaves, annoyed that no one responded, Darius follows him while Kenneth finishes “Jankholes,” singing his philosophy which encompasses his knowledge of quantum physics. Perhaps this mysterious character is a genius and has created a way to defy time’s limitations, after all.
In a subplot Jeff reveals why he is interested in investigating whether there is anything to the weird guy’s classified ad (“I Wanna Go Back”). Jeff laments about his misguided youthful self, who accepted little responsibility. He hopes to time travel to revive a relationship he never consummated. In the lyrics, Jeff gives voice to our human fears about losing youth, strength, and the “innocent” delusion of immortality.
After meeting Jeff, who Kenneth finds off-putting and untrustworthy (“What’s Your Mission”), Kenneth leaves. The determined Darius does clever sleuthing and goes to the grocery store where Kenneth works. Susceptible to Darius, Kenneth softens. Cleverly, Darius gains his trust in a mutual admiration society. Eventually, Darius joins Kenneth in his fantastic endeavor. Both achieve a level of friendship as they pursue their desire to change events in the past. Darius joins Kenneth on his dangerous mission to steal a high-powered laser that Kenneth needs for his time machine, which is ready to propel them across the barriers of time.
The thrust and parry between Obi-Melekwe and Trensch is authentic and vibrant (“What’s Your Mission,” “Go Time”). Eventually they share the real reasons why they want to go back to reverse events that destroyed their lives. However, for one of the protagonists, their memories of the past are false. They have betrayed themselves rather than face the truth and accept their mistakes. Nevertheless, this revelation propels them to evade capture by FBI agents and possibly fulfill their dreams in the rousing last segment of the musical (“Two Points for Honesty,” “What’s Your Mission,” “Big Machine”).
Excavating sub plots, a few actors fill in additional parts. The charming, spot-on Ashley Pérez Flanagan pops her scenes as Lizzie, Jeff’s unconsummated love. As Belinda, Flanagan reveals clues about Kenneth’s past, which throw Darius for a loop and set her to realizing dangerous emotional patterns in her own life (“Hollow”). Additionally, John-Michael Lyles portrays the self-actualized librarian who inspires the inward Arnau to come out of his shell (“Robot Wolf”). These characters, along with the FBI agents Flanagan and Lyles also portray, are the most grounded in reality. Importantly, they provide the contrast with the three dreamers (Kenneth, Darius, Jeff), who want too much.
Kudos to the creative team. They make this stylized production work in the cavernous stage of the Harvey Theatre at BAM. There is no spoiler. You will just have to purchase tickets to this delightful, fun, touching production to see whether or not Darius and Kenneth ever “go back.”
Safety Not Guaranteed runs 1 hour 45 minutes with no intermission at the Harvey Theatre, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY, until 20 October. More details
Production Photos by Julieta Cervantes