Is any person truly ready for death? And the bigger question is how prepared are loved ones for a family member’s final demise? In Hereafter Musical Vinnie Favale and Frankie Keane examine three women who’ve lost loved ones unexpectedly and/or way too early. Their sorrow continues over a period of time until they decide to visit a medium that can get them resolve some issues as he communicates with the deceased.
Favale and Keane had done a reasonably good job with the dialogue and music in Hereafter Musical. Though many of the musical motifs and arrangements are similar, in this particular musical, the sameness works because of the fine libretto and orchestration. And the cherry on the top musically is the “Hereafter Choir,” composed of Cicily Daniels, Tanesha Gary, and Emily Jenda. Reminiscent of the girl group trio in Little Shop of Horrors, the “Hereafter Choir,” as a modern-day Greek chorus, gives this musical a bit more nuance and flourish.
Among the spirits, the standout is Deborah Tranelli. As a Jewish mensch, Tranelli understands when to punctuate with humor and when to commiserate with the bereaved and the other spirits. Though her character is reaped in Jewish stereotypes, Tranelli finds a way to elevate the material above just another archetypal depiction of the Jewish mother.
As the B-movie actress spirit Anita, Frankie Keane is given the opportunity to show off the pyrotechnical feats of her fine gospel mezzo voice. Unfortunately, the script does not convincingly clarify her role as the middle woman—so to speak—between the spirits and the medium, played by Paul Blankenship.
With better sets and bit more finetuneing, Hereafter Musical —think of Nunsense, the Fantastiks, and Little Shop of Horrors—could become one of those Off-Broadway standards that delights audiences from all walks of life for years to come. After all it’s not so easy to find humor and write toe-tapping tunes about death and the hereafter. Well, the Hereafter Musical has done just that!!
Hereafter Musical runs through May 6 at Theater 80 in St Mark Place, New York City. For more information, visit: www.hereaftermusical.com.
—William S. Gooch
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