First Date
Book by Austin Winsberg, Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner
Directed and Choreographed by Lee Anne Mathews
New Jewish Theatre
November 21, 2024
Mitchell Henry-Eagles, Will Bonfiglio, Molly Wennstrom
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
Have you ever been on a blind date? I haven’t, but after seeing New Jewish Theatre’s production of the musical First Date, I feel like I know all I need to know about the topic. First Date is a small-cast musical that had a relatively short run on Broadway, and its tone is mostly comic with a bit of a hopeful air that maybe there is someone out there for everyone, but it might take persistence and broadening your expectations. With likable leads and an enthusiastic supporting cast, this is a quirky, eventful look at the modern dating scene, especially for middle class city dwellers.
Although the Broadway production was set in New York City, a few tweaks have been made to the script to move the action to St. Louis for this version. Here, in a relatively upscale restaurant/bar, we meet Aaron (Mitchell Henry-Eagles), who has never been on a blind date before and is nervous, while also trying to keep his mind off his ex-fiancée, Allison (Greta Rosenstock), who still looms large in Aaron’s mind, while his best friend Gabe (Jayson Heil) also appears in imaginary form to encourage Aaron to move on. The somewhat geeky Aaron soon meets his date for the evening, Casey (Molly Wennstrom), a quirky aspiring artist who is a veteran of blind dates and has had a series of disastrous relationships with “bad boys”, and is wary upon finding out that Aaron is not her usual type. The pair have been set up by Casey’s happily married sister, Lauren (Grace Seidel), and Lauren’s husband, Kevin, who works with Aaron. Among the figures such as Lauren, Allison, and Casey’s bestie Reggie (Drew Mizell)–who keeps calling to offer Casey a “bail-out” of the date–who either “appear” in the would-be couple’s minds or from elsewhere, there’s also the Waiter (Will Bonfiglio), who is determined to make his guests’ lives entertaining for the time they are there, including leading a production number with the other staff that he supposedly wrote himself. Meanwhile, we see the progression of Aaron’s and Casey’s date, from skeptical first impressions, to sharing details of their lives, and trying to sort out the voices in their heads and figure out whether they actually want to pursue a relationship beyond this one encounter. It’s a funny show, with memorable songs and well-drawn characters–especially the two leads, and the Waiter who essentially serves as Narrator/Master of Ceremonies/Commentator on the Action.
The cast is great, with much in the way of presence and enthusiasm, and strong voices. Wennstrom and Eagles make an excellent will-they-or-won’t-they pair, with chemistry that builds naturally but also effectively keeps viewers guessing, at least for a while, since the show is fairly predictable in most of its arcs. Both performers portray a believable mixture of trepidation and vulnerability, and Wennstrom especially has an impressive voice. Bonfiglio is a delight as the Waiter, as well, with strong comic timing and hilariously snarky charm. Heil, Mizell, Seidel, and Rosenstock each play a variety of characters in addition to the ones listed above, providing some memorable comic moments. These four also form a strong supporting ensemble in the group numbers. The direction and choreography, both by Lee Anne Matews, are thoughtful and energetic, with a “quirky rom-com” sort of vibe that’s appropriate for the subject matter.
The technical qualities are top notch, as is usual for this company. John Stark’s set is effective, with a fun setup giving it an appropriate restaurant vibe, including seating some audience members at tables mixed in with the tables containing the members of the ensemble. The fantasy elements are well-realized by means of the set and the excellent lighting by Denisse Chavez. Amanda Werre’s sound design is also strong, as is the first-rate on-stage band led by music director Larry D. Pry.
First Date is a fun show, playing out the highs and lows of the dating scene with humor and heart. Its two leads make a convincing pair to root for, especially, even though there are moments of indecision that drag out a little too much. Still, this is an entertaining, mostly upbeat way to end an excellent 2024 season for the New Jewish Theatre.
Molly Wennstrom, Mitchell Henry-Eagles and Cast
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
New Jewish Theatre
The New Jewish Theatre is presenting First Date at the J’s Wool Studio Theatre until December 8, 2024