Theatrical Review: Daddy’s Little Girl

DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL
Author, Composer, Lyricist: Jeff Lewis
Directed by: Jeremy William Hilgert*
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz

The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presented an original musical production presented exclusively at the theatre entitled, “Daddy’s Little Girl” by Jeff Lewis. The play is about an overprotective father who encounters a series of situations while trying to keep his daughter “Daddy’s Little Girl.” These situations include entanglements with a self indulgent educational system and his own desire to live in a past that is better left in the past.

The play seemed to be an enjoyable experience to most of the audience who attended the performance. And, the production is certainly enjoyable to those who are fans of The Disney Channels’ programs like “Hannah Montana” and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” But, for those of us who aren’t prone to watching “Seventh Heaven” marathons all day, the lack of substance in the relationships portrayed in this quaint musical fell as flat as the one dimensional caricatures who inhabited the show. Still, this reviewer does concede the effect the author is trying to achieve is the creation of a piece those who do like the television programs I mentioned will like this play as well. And, in this, the production works.

What doesn’t quite work is the script itself. It had the feel of being written. This may sound like an odd observation until one realizes people in real life don’t speak in properly formed sentences in their everyday conversations whether they be with their friends, teachers, or parents. This may have led to the persistent pauses between lines and cues being late throughout the production.

Many productions who have the opportunity of working alongside the author of the work during rehearsal also have an advantage of being able to enhance the production by changing the script as it’s being read out loud by the actors to reflect a more flowing dialogue. This reviewer was not privy to the occurrences which took place during rehearsal and it is not this reviewer’s intent on second guessing the director. But, it seemed this opportunity to work with the author in the manner described would have made the play more real and therefore allow the themes the author wish to share become more believable in the reflection of the realities of life.

The cast consisted of Jon Buxton who portrayed Nathan Larson the overprotective father who yearns for the old days when his daughter was a lot less independent, Lisa Grando as Rosemary Larson who is Nathan’s ex wife whose career woman status sometimes takes away from her ex husband’s archaic perception of her role as a mother, Ariel Hudak as their daughter Jennifer Larson who yearns to be treated like an adult while remaining dependent on the privileges being a teenager living on her parents’ income can afford her, Brandon Cabrera as Jennifer’s brother Ted Larson who perspectives on the life of his family are as objective as they can be while being a member of that family, Chrystyna Zenovia as the self indulgent Math teacher whose only goal in teaching is to survive it until the summer months arrive, Michelle Kane as Principal Gibs whose speech impediments mirrors the impediments she has in running a school meant to educate those in its charge, Michael Welten as Jennifer’s somewhat dimwitted boyfriend who occasionally demonstrates his intelligence until his desire for food overrides this trait, and Jackie Lewis as Jennifer’s tattooed friend Becka who offers her own perspective on her girlfriend’s life. The cast is rounded out with a group of teens who mostly serve as the productions chorus. They are Luke Baboolal Lea Buxton, Emily Heller, Philip Benefield, Tara Turnbull, Leah Rosengarten who also served as a member of the production‘s crew, Marshall Haskell who also performed in the orchestra as its percussionist, Jasmine Thomas who also performed in the orchestra as its flutist, Michael Battipaglia who also performed in the orchestra as its trumpeter, and Rachel Miller who also performed in the orchestra as its Clarinetist and Saxophonist. The Orchestra was conducted by the Musical Director who also performed on keyboard while arrangements of the pieces were made by Adam Birnbaum.

The Shawnee Playhouse* production of “Daddy’s Little Girl” by Jeff Lewis was Directed by Jeremy William Hilgert* who also designed the production’s set and Stage Managed by Robin Kessler* who also served the production as Lighting Designer. The Master Carpenter was Bob Walz* and the production’s crew included Rachel Plank and Autumn Reeves The Executive Director of The Shawnee Playhouse* is Midge McClosky* while the producers are Ginny and Charlie Kirkwood. Group Sales of their productions are handled by Mary Horn* (who also served as a member of the Box Office Staff) while The Shawnee Playhouse publicity is handled by Amy Cramer*. The Box office staff includes Becky Haskell and Lillian Gonzalez*.

This production of “Daddy’s Little Girl” by Jeff Lewis will continue its run at The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA until March 1st. The next Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presentations will be “A Life in The Theatre” presented March 13th - 22nd, and “A Walk In The Woods” presented March 27th through April 5th. Those who enjoy the Passionate Art Lover level of membership in The Forwardian Arts Society are offered a $2.00 discount off the admission fee of The Shawnee Playhouse* Productions (excluding Children Theatrical Productions and those presented by non Shawnee Production Companies). Please contact The Shawnee Playhouse* at 570-421-5093 for more information and to reserve your ticket.

No Photographs were taken during the performance.

(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.