THE HANGOVER REPORT – Paper Mill’s PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES is sweetly diverting

90This afternoon, I took a short field trip out to the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ to catch a matinee performance of the breezy musical Pump Boys and Dinettes, which was an unlikely Broadway hit back in 1982 (it was a Best Musical Tony nominee that season). Happily, the Paper Mill revival is a winning, diverting confectionery, and the perfect conduit to get springtime into high gear. In style and structure, the piece calls to mind other shows of the era, most notably early Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (in its slight but sturdy build) and Cats (in its threadbare narrative). Simply put, the musical is about the simple lives of six friends who work at a pump station and a dinette somewhere along Highway 57. What’s so refreshing about this revue-like musical is its lack of dramatic conflict; it evokes life as most folks see it without a lot of the over-the-top melodramatic histrionics associated with musical theater.

The Paper Mill production is solidly directed by John Foley, one of the musical’s co-creators (along with Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel, and Jim Wann) and an original Pump Boy, and charmingly choreographed by Joann M. Hunter. Not surprisingly, Mr. Foley does a commendable job of bringing out the material’s sunny and uncomplicated disposition, although I missed some of the pungency of the Encores! Off-Center presentation two years ago. The cast is wonderful and each of them – James Barry, Gabe Bowling, Julie Foldesi, Jason Ostrowski, Alysha Umphress, and Sam Weber – appear to be having a blast performing the highly infectious and tuneful material. Mr. Barry’s energetic and winning Jim (the role Mr. Foley himself played in the original production), in particular, makes for a hugely charismatic and generous front man. Additionally, the show is smartly designed (sets by Michael Schweikardt, costumes by Brian Hemesath, and lighting by F. Mitchell Dana), easily projecting this small show out into the Paper Mill’s large auditorium.

RECOMMENDED

 

PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES
Regional, Musical
Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, NJ)
1 hour, 45 minutes (with one intermission)
Through May 1

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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