Street Smart

THEATER REVIEW: Avenue X

by Mark Cofta

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Published: Jun 16, 2009

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Philadelphia's champions of small musicals, 11th Hour Theatre Co. (Reefer Madness, the Barrymore-winning Bomb-itty of Errors) apply their considerable talents to Avenue X, the a cappella musical slighted by its "doo-wop" label. John Jiler and Ray Leslee's tragic tale of races intersecting in 1963 Brooklyn embraces more styles with more depth than doo-wop connotes.

Pasquale (Michael Philip O'Brien) and pals Chuck (Kevin Duffin) and Ubazz (Craig Patrick O'Brien) ready themselves for a singing competition when a rift about Chuck's obsession with Pasquale's disenchanted sister Barbara (Laura Catlaw, epitomizing 1963's curvy-beauty standards) breaks up the group. Pasquale retreats to the sewer for its echoing acoustics (nicely realized by sound designer Mark Valenzuela, who also contributes realistic traffic sounds), encountering Milton (Lee Edward Colston II), another singer from the neighborhood's new housing projects, full of blacks resented by the local Italians.

Despite their animosity, Milton and Pasquale forge an inspiring musical bond. Pasquale imagines winning the competition, becoming a star and living in a penthouse like The Drifters (that they all bunk together is the show's running joke), whileMilton envisions a musical opportunity to create true racial harmony.

In opposition are Milton's boozing stepfather, Roscoe (Forrest McClendon, who challenges the pop-style white boys to sing from the soul); his militant Muslim friend, Winston (Carl Clemons-Hopkins); and his mother (Toneisha Jones Harris), who feels Milton's singing gifts are best applied in church. In a day's time, Milton and Pasquale unite whites and blacks through song — a terrific competitive medley building to a powerful first-act finale — but world-changing isn't that easy, and Avenue X ends tragically.

The music is beautiful, the performances superb — and both are bolstered by Shelley Hicklin's sculpted lighting and Darren Michael Hengst's sharp fight choreography. Director Megan Nicole O'Brien cast great actors who are also terrific singers — how nice to hear unamplified voices! — skillfully shaping a story that relies primarily on their talents.

Avenue X | Through June 21, $21-$28, 11th Hour Theatre Co. at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, 2111 Sansom St., 267-987-9865, 11thhourtheatrecompany.org

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