By Mike Hoban
‘The View Upstairs’ – Written by Max Vernon; Directed by Paul Daigneault; Scenic Design by Abby Shenker; Costume Design by Dustin Todd Rennells; Lighting Design by Abigail Wang; Sound Design by Elektra T. Newman. Presented by the Speakeasy Stage Company at the BCA Plaza Theatre through June 22.
Given that The View Upstairs is a fictional retelling of the final night of the Upstairs Lounge, the New Orleans gay bar that was turned into a fiery deathtrap by an arsonist’s match in 1973 (claiming the lives of 32 people), it’s a bit hard to find the proper descriptor without sounding disrespectful. But the truth of the matter is that this musical, now being given its New England premiere by Speakeasy Stage, is often funny and joyful – for the first 95 minutes anyway – despite its dark undertones. Equal parts Twilight Zone episode, gay sitcom, documentary, and cautionary tale on the ways that the obsession with social media is stealing our collective souls, View is first and foremost a worthwhile entertainment.
Coke-sniffing millennial fashion designer Wes, unaware of its history, has just bought the place with the idea of turning it into a Southern outpost for his New York brand, but he soon finds himself back in 1973 among the bar’s patrons, who give him a history lesson and a new perspective on life. The strong cast features a plethora of Boston midsize stage stalwarts (McGarrahan, Eddie Shields, Davron S. Monroe, Jared Troilo, Johanna Carlisle-Zepeda, Michael Levesque and Russell Garrett) along with relative newcomers Shawn Verrier and vocal powerhouse and emerging star Yewande Odetoyinbo (who copped Best Supporting Actress/Musical at this year’s IRNEs). New York import J’royce Jata perfectly embodies the self-obsessed Wes, who comes to realize that despite his internet fame he’s really a sad and empty vessel, who begins to gain some insight into himself after he falls for hustler Patrick (Shields).
The score is solid, featuring a mix of ballads and group numbers, and the four piece band led by Eli Schildkraut is pretty rocking. While the ballads aren’t particularly memorable, the group numbers are terrific, particularly “Some Kind of Paradise” and “Outside These Walls” (led by Odetoyinbo). Interestingly, Monroe’s greatest contribution comes not from his prodigious vocal talents but from an extended comic monologue that he delivers on the difficulties of cruising in the “old days”.
It would be wonderful to say that the The View Upstairs is a stark reminder of the bad old days, but with recent political developments, some of those troubles may be coming back if we don’t remain vigilant as a constituency. This is a show well worth seeing – particularly if you’re younger to gain some perspective – but it’s a great entertainment for all audiences. For tickets and additional information, go to: http://www.speakeasystage.com/the-view-upstairs/
