From Broadway to Black Box
Full disclosure: this writer had seen the original productions of IF/THEN from its previews in DC, to its full Broadway run. After seeing these full scale productions, it could be hard to imagine the show in a small, scaled down production.
However, in this writer’s opinion, Brown Paper Box Co. has done this with success because in a smaller space, our focus is drawn to the story and the emotions.
Sitting in the third floor theatre at The Athenaeum, we look into a simple stage set up with brick walls scaled with ivy. The orchestra pit is tucked away in the corner towards the back. With the small stage, minimal lighting and sets, we can better focus on the story and these characters’ lives. It feels like we become closer to them, like we’re right there experiencing the ups and downs of these people’s relationships.
Seeing the Connections
This setting allows not only the story to carry more intimately, but creates more intimate connections between our characters, in this writer’s view. We feel that they sing their hearts out to us.
Bridget Adams-King as Kate sits right down in front of us like we’re her kindergarten class and belts out No More Wasted Time praising Beth’s determination to start again. We feel the love Josh, played by Michael Peters, has for his unborn child in Hey Kid as he expresses his determination to be the best dad. And, Amanda Giles as Elizabeth leads the show as she shows how both Beth and Liz grow from this woman trying to find her footing to one who is confident in her life. As she sings we feel everything from her joy, to her love, to her heartbreak all up close and personal.
Brown Paper Box Co.’s production of IF/THEN creates a new level of intimacy with the story. If you’re into big, Broadway-scale musical productions with lots of sets, lights, and huge dance numbers, this production might not be for you. If you’re already a fan of IF/THEN and looking for a new take, this would be a good fit for you. More, it would likely be a good fit for any musical lover who likes to explore the possibilities of what if?
