When I first learned that Carmel Community Players had scheduled a play written by Megan Ann Jacobs, I made a note to myself that Mrs. K and I had to be sure to make room in our schedule for attendance. Ms. Jacob’s amazing Coping with Autumn was a brilliant theatre experience. It had won a fist full of Mitty Awards.
However, her latest production, Amused, will not.
Amused has a clever enough basic idea: a Greek muse loses his connection with a successful writer when she dies and fears replacing the author, until he meets a stubborn young lady with her own fears of moving forward. They help each other see their ways through. A cast of young actors and actresses valiantly bring the piece to life. An accomplished director took the reins.
In my opinion, the results didn’t meet expectations.
While Coping with Autumn was “powerful, pointed, creatively fresh, and structurally innovative,” this script is straight from the popular television sitcom genre. By that I mean it plays to a common denominator, repeating the formula we might see in a Big Bang Theory episode. There are broadly drawn characters, in ridiculous situations, with over-the-top reactions. I can presume that Amused came from an earlier period in Ms. Jacob’s development as a writer.
I was thus disappointed in what I sat through. In my opinion, the uneven production lacked any concise, solid, or meaningful structure. The jokes fell flat to Mrs. K and I – although I will say the audience laughed loudly at many questionably funny actions, lines, and situations – led by the playwright and a section of her well-wishers. It was very similar to a laugh track one hears on a television program.
I always appreciate the efforts of the cast, especially a community theatre cast, and I give my best to these players. They all worked very hard to come up with their characterizations. I have seen Joe Wagner (Sebastian, the muse) onstage a number of times and have always thought he is a talented performer. The remaining cast is unfamiliar to me, but I think there is some very good potential in each of them. Director Kelly Keller staged the piece.
Bottom line: As you might tell, I was disappointed with this production. As always – expectation breeds disappointment.
CCP’s Amused, performed at the Switch Theatre in Fishers, continues through Sunday, Oct. 22. Tickets may be purchased online at CarmelPlayers.org.
Read more great play reviews from A Seat on the Aisle at asota.wordpress.com.