The world premiere of First Date, a musical put on by ACT and 5th Avenue Theatre, provides a humorous, touching, and—judging by the knowing laughs of the audience—accurate glimpse into the modern world of dating. The script by Austin Winsberg and lyrics by Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary immediately draw the audience in with their catchy one-liners, and things only get better from there.
Aaron (Eric Ankrim) and Casey (Kelly Karbacz) meet up at a restaurant. Aaron is endearingly nervous and overdressed, admitting early on that this is his first blind date. Casey is a cynical veteran of the dating scene who’s disappointed to discover that Aaron is not the Brad Pitt lookalike she’d imagined. They order drinks and begin searching for conversation topics, but there is much more going on in each of their heads than the strained small talk lets on.
That’s where the talented ensemble comes in. At first they are inconspicuous background figures—the waiter and two couples enjoying drinks together—but at the drop of a hat they leap to their feet and break into song and dance. What would Aaron’s grandmother say if she realized he was on a date with a non-Jew? How would Casey’s best friend react to her choice to order a big, juicy burger instead of a salad? The ensemble answers these questions (and many more) as they transform into the colorful characters who are ever-present in the minds of Casey and Aaron.
Benjamin Harris is a riot in the three “Bailout Songs”, offering Casey an “emergency” phone call should she need an excuse to abruptly leave the date. Richard Gray is memorable as the waiter who moonlights as a singer, interrupting a tense moment with a chipper love ballad. Aaron’s ex-girlfriend (Vicki Noon) shows up too. And of course, we see the best friends (Brandon O’Neill and Billie Wildrick), who provide a constant stream of advice and criticism as the couple fumbles through their first date.
Along with this brilliant cast, the talents of Bill Berry (Director), Josh Prince (Musical Staging), and the entire production crew work together beautifully in this new musical. First Date makes for a delightful night at the theatre. It is relevant, heartwarming, witty, and just plain fun.
First Date. Book by Austin Winsberg. Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner. Directed by Bill Berry. Musical Staging by Josh Prince. ACT-A Contemporary Theatre. March 10 – May 20. Tickets and information at 206-292-7676 or www.ACTtheatre.org