Tickets and more information at /everett/the-noteworthy-life-of-howard-barnes.Jennifer Patten - Asst. Make the trip up to Everett and enjoy this hilarious musical comedy. This is not a cast of lily-white glam-bots - a temptation that some theatre companies succumb to, even today. I admire the casting of a cross section of American actors. Toward the end, the gags come so fast, you have to stay on your toes to catch them all.Īs always, Village Theatre’s costuming, set, orchestra and tech were stellar. Pro-tip: The program has a list of them on page 15 - it’s fun to compare notes afterward to see how many you spotted. I was reminded of Something Rotten, performed last year at The 5th Avenue, in that Howard Barnes is thick with dozens of homages to great musical theater. When it poked a little fun at experimental theatre, I could not stop laughing. Interestingly, this play is performed in a single act, and goes places you would never predict. Personally, I didn’t find it to be objectionable, but now that my kids are grown, my filter is off. Someone suggested that a PG-13 rating is probably about right. Although I’d recommend Howard Barnes for anyone, there are occasional sexual references that might make some parents briefly uncomfortable. Their most recent project, Romantics Anonymous, is already getting rave reviews. They’re young - in their 30s - just getting rolling, and if Howard Barnes is any indication, we are in for some great musicals.

It might seem a tad hyperbolic to suggest that Dimond and Kooman will someday roll off the tongue like Learner and Lowe, and Rogers and Hammerstein, but I think it’s entirely possible. While we’re committing things to memory, you might as well add Christopher Dimond and Michael Kooman. Maggie’s soliloquy as she barges into Howard’s studio apartment was nothing short of extraordinary, and it brought the house down. Maggie (Taryn Darr) speaks to Howard (Joshua Carter) in his apartment. Jasmine Jean Sim was absolutely terrific in the role of antagonist/ex-girlfriend.īut Taryn Darr was a flawless, perfectly cast showstopper (both figuratively and literally) in the role of Maggie - the new girl in the office that Howard is crushing on. Who doesn’t like a little lighthearted teasing about the glorious egos of successful musical geniuses like, say, for instance, well, Andrew Lloyd Webber? He landed the plum role of Von Schwartzenheim. (Photo by Mark Kitaoka)Īnd what about Jeff Steitzer? Who, among his many dramatic accomplishments, is the actual Voice of God for Microsoft HALO multiplayer games. Von Schwartzenheim (Jeff Steitzer) in all his glory. Ask yourself how you would feel if your humdrum, ordinary life was suddenly transformed into a musical? I think he handled it rather well. Joshua Carter, who nailed down the challenging title role, came off as a believable Howard Barnes - an ordinary guy “I’m Cheerios!“ - a man with a penchant for laser light shows more at home at a hockey game than in a musical. Everyone was laughing throughout the entire production. All this combined to make it one of the most enjoyable shows I’ve seen in recent memory. Howard Barnes has an excellent premise, is brilliantly written, is performed magnificently, and has a charming and accessible score. But from the opening curtain, I could see this was going to be great. The fancy-schmancy restaurant where we had attempted to dine had screwed up dinner, (thank God I don’t have to write about that), it was pouring buckets of rain, and we were running late. I was in a foul mood when I walked into the Everett Performing Arts Center Saturday night. Described as equal parts satire, romantic comedy, and love letter to the American musical, Howard Barnes has the potential to become a household name and it’s debuting at the Village Theater in Everett right now. You can tell your friends you saw it when. Howard is introduced to the “musical” world. But it’s not too late for… what was it again? Oh yeah, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes. Want to be the first one on the block to see The Producers? Sorry, you’re too late. I found myself having trouble retrieving the name exactly, as I stopped strangers in the streets, grabbed them by the lapels, and insisted that they run out immediately and get tickets.īasically, I loved everything about this musical but the name. The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes might be an ill-advised title for a musical. Howard (Joshua Carter) bumps into Maggie (Taryn Darr) at a Rangers game.

Noteworthy life of howard barnes