Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Mark Sonnenblick’s sensational MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET is just about perfect musical theater

• By drediman
• October 28, 2018
• No Comments

Jeremy Cohen and Sam Bolen in Mark Sonnenblick’s “Midnight at the Never Get” at the York Theatre Company at St. Peter’s Church.

I recently had a chance to catch Midnight at the Never Get, an absolutely smashing new musical by Mark Sonnenblick, courtesy of the York Theatre Company. Mr. Sonnenblick, who penned the show’s book, music, and lyrics, has concocted a sublimely entertaining – but also exquisitely aching and yearning – “memory musical” from beyond the grave about one Trevor Copeland, an irrepressible gay cabaret singer, and his (potentially) unrequited love affair with his up-and-coming, less flamboyant songwriting partner. Largely set in Greenwich Village during the 1960s, the musical also charts the evolution of the gay rights movement, and the increasingly painful consequences it has on this duo.

Mr. Sonnenblick’s accomplishments in this show are extremely impressive. First off, the musical’s deceptively simple concept (think Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret meets Beckett’s Waiting for Godot) is a completely original one – Midnight at the Never Get isn’t based on a blockbuster movie, nor is it a jukebox musical – that’s executed with supreme intelligence. It does, however, painstakingly mimic the song stylings of the great American Songbook, particularly Cole Porter’s oeuvre. In doing so, Mr. Sonnenblick in my mind has written one of the great pastiche scores in recent memory. His commitment to musical authenticity (by the way, the score is richly orchestrated by Adam Pond for piano, percussion, brass, and wind) while moving the story punchily forward via sophisticated, pitch-perfect lyrics was thrilling to behold.

Although I suspect the show has yet to take its final, I would imagine more immersive form, director Max Friedman has done an excellent job of staging the show within the more conventional proscenium setup of the York Theatre Company’s subterranean space in St. Peter’s Church. Nevertheless, in its current iteration, Midnight at the Never Get is just about perfect musical theater, beautifully balancing entertainment and provocation. It’s also sensationally performed. Kudos particularly to Sam Bolen, whose compelling performance as Trevor oozes heart, depth, and pizzazz. I’m happy to count Mr. Sonnenblick’s Midnight at the Never Get as one of the truly brilliant musical theater entries of this fall theater season, joining Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan’s Girl from the North Country (at the Public)and Andrew Butler’s Rags Parkland Sings Songs of the Future (at Ars Nova).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET
Off-Broadway, Musical
York Theatre Company at St. Peter’s Church
1 hour, 30 minutes (without an intermission)
Through November 4