Off-Broadway Review: “Curvy Widow”
David Roberts
- OnStage Chief New York Theatre Critic
After Bobby’s (Nancy Opel) writer husband Jim (Ken Land) collapses dead on top of his typewriter, she begins to deal with her loss facing “half a life” and realizing Jim has been “all [she’s] ever known.” No longer “in control,” Bobby begins to ask important questions: “Is it time to make choices yet? Start again at my age?” Or is this the end of a chapter and time to “turn the page?” After a move from the upper eastside to downtown, Bobby makes a follow-up visit to her husband’s “shrink” (Alan Muraoka) who makes “getting laid a medical directive” and creating a profile on a dating site a requirement. “Curvy Widow,” currently running at the Westside Theatre, is the autobiographical story of the musical’s writer Bobby Goldman who gives her name to the protagonist and her Match-Dot-Com handle ‘curvy widow’ to the fictional grieving dowager.
Bobby’s gaggle of friends Caroline (Andrea Bianchi), Heidi (Elizabeth Ward Land), and Joan (Aisha De Haas) offer their support and reinforce their mutual friend with encouragement and champagne, especially – after Match-Dot-Com and internet sex-sites – Bobby meets Per Se (Christopher Shyer) who respects her entrepreneurship and might be “the one.” The three friends deliver “The One” with a convincing bravura. And Nancy Opel (Bobby) and Christopher Shyer (Per Se) deliver their duet “What More Do You Need” with a convincing pathos.
Depicting the stages of bereavement with conversations with the “ghost” of one’s spouse is not a new convention and Ms. Goldman uses Bobby’s conversations with the departed Jim effectively. However, these rendezvous could be used by the playwright to provide more information about Bobby and her relationship with her late husband and answer intriguing questions about her likes and dislikes, her motivations, her successes in her lucrative construction business. Was Bobby happy in her thirty-year marriage? What kind of sacrifices did she make? There are hints that Jim might have been overbearing. How did Bobby manage to keep everything under control – or did she?
Nancy Opel’s Bobby is everything the character should be. Bobby identifies herself as “a writer’s wife” who grows into the realization that she needs to separate and individuate from Jim and their marriage – much like the adolescent separates from parents and childhood. Ms. Opel successfully navigates that emotional journey with honesty and authenticity. Her vocals are delivered with passion and exhibit an impressive range and interpretive craft. She is a joy to watch and listen to. Her solos “Turn the Page” and “Lying on the Bathroom Floor” are remarkable insights into the inner life of a spouse enmeshed in the turmoil that is bereavement.
The men in the cast portray several roles, none requiring a great deal of differentiation in character – except for the roles of Jim and Per Se. Ken Land’s ghost of Jim hints at some discord in his marriage leaving the audience wondering what other skeletons might be in the fictional Goldman closet. It would have been interesting for Jim redivivus to have a musical number. And Christopher Shyer’s Per Se is as seductive as he is the perfect caring mate for Bobby. Mr. Shyer’s duet with Ms. Opel is perhaps the climax of the musical and the opportunity for catharsis.
Bobby Goldman’s book could easily be fortified with deeper levels of exposition. Because this is at heart an autobiographical musical, more about the fictional Bobby and what moves her from grieving to living would be welcomed. Drew Brody’s music and lyrics are pleasing and successfully complement Ms. Goldman’s book. Peter Flynn keeps the musical moving at the proper pace and his staging is visually delightful. Rob Bissinger’s scenic design is more interesting downtown that uptown. Brian Hemeseth’s costumes and Matthew Richards’s lighting are visually pleasurable.
“Curvy Widow” is a charming and engaging exploration of the balancing act performed when navigating bereavement and discovering one’s “groove” and choosing the health of “new beginnings” and continuing life’s journey without fear.
CURVY WIDOW
The Cast of “Curvy Widow” features Andrea Bianchi, Aisha de Haas, Elizabeth Ward Land, Ken Land, Alan Muraoka, Nancy Opel, and Christopher Shyer.
“Curvy Widow” features choreography by Marcos Santana, scenic design by Rob Bissinger, costume design by Brian Hemesath, lighting design by Matthew Richards, and sound design by Ryan Rumery and M. Florian Staab. Andrew Sotomayor serves as musical director with orchestrations, arrangements and Music Supervision by Wayne Barker. Casting is by Stewart/Whitley. Production photos by Matthew Murphy.
“Curvy Widow” plays at The Westside Theatre, Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Performances are Monday at 8:00 p.m., Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $79.00 - $99.00 (including a $1.50 facility fee). Premium seats are available. Call Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. For more information, please visit www.CurvyWidow.com. Running time is 1 hour and 25 minutes without intermission.
Photo: Alan Muraoka and Nancy Opel. Credit: Matthew Murphy.