The cast of Found at the Atlantic Theater Company, New York. Picture: Kevin Thomas Garcia
Found continues at the Atlantic Theater Company until 9 November.
Have you ever heard of the magazine Found? I confess I hadn’t until the emergence of this new Off-Broadway musical that is based on the publication and carries its name. It’s resulted in a tremendously winning show, giving a lot of freshness to a rather familiar plot.
Found, the magazine, publishes discarded notes, letters and other ephemera found by its editors and readers. As the periodical’s website describes its content, it could range from love letters to homework, poetry on napkins and doodles, “anything that gives a glimpse into someone else’s life”.
Found, the musical, centres on the magazine’s creator, Davy Rothbart, and how the idea for the magazine developed after he discovered a hateful note from a disgruntled lover left mistakenly on the windshield of his car. The book, co-written by Hunter Bell and Lee Overtree, the show’s director, goes on to develop a romantic triangle for Rothbart. It tells how an ambitious lady television producer wannabe, Kate, takes him away from his loyal gal collaborator, Denise, and off to Hollywood and the temptation to dilute the integrity of his work (like falsifying the found material) for a potential television series. But never fear, Rothbart comes to his senses, passes up the big TV money and stands by his principles as he returns to working on the magazine and is reunited with Denise.
Throughout the show, members of the cast break though the narrative to recite various pieces of found material. The readings often comment on or amplify – sometimes obliquely, sometimes fairly directly – the plot points. Sometimes, they just add a bit of unanticipated humor, and sometimes, they become lyrics for songs. Often, the notes in their original format, are projected onto David Korins’ happy-looking set, whose flats are covered with reproductions of the found stuff. An off-stage announcer at the show’s start identifies himself as Rothbart and assures the audience that all of the notes in the show are “completely real”.
The device lends surprising spontaneity and occasional zaniness to the fairly stock storyline. It’s a mood further heightened by Eli Bolin’s bright and catchy score in a pop-rock mode that’s never overbearing. The show’s six musicians are ensconced in various foxholes around the stage. Another asset is Monica Bill Barnes’ smart choreography that lets each member of the ten-person cast show off a personal gyrating style.
It’s a great cast as well. Nick Blaemire makes an appropriately scruffy Rothbart, imbuing him with a Dustin Hoffman-like appeal and pop singing that takes on high notes almost rivaling Frankie Valli. Daniel Everidge brings a loveable bearishness to Rothbart’s sidekick Mickey D, Barrett Wilbert Weed lends sympathetic smarts to Denise, and Betsy Morgan brings credibility to both Kate’s ambition and her sex appeal.
Meanwhile, each member of the ensemble gets a chance to win over the audience with note-readings that vibrate with subtext and vivid portrayals of other characters in Rothbart’s story. The performers are Christina Anthony, Andrew Call, Orville Mendoza, Molly Pope, Danny Pudi and Sandy Rustin.
They all give their all in helping make Found, the musical, an unexpectedly ‘note’-worthy find.
Ron Cohen
Readers may also be interested in:
On the Town, Lyric Theatre, New York – Review
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