HEREAFTER  at the Snapple  Theater Center

(Seen  September 20, 2014)


This new musical is in dire need of a director and a dramaturg.  The extraneous "chorus" are an inter-ruptive  presence in an already diffuse musical.  And the over-long book  is in need of some judicious cutting.

The story involves three disparate women who come together at the home of a psychic in order to make contact with their deceased loved ones.  They are each looking for 'closure' in order to go on with their lives.

But the book gives us eight caricatures!  For comedy to succeed, it needs to have some basis in reality.  But this show only relies on silliness.  And the director-choreographer gives us a 'by the numbers' presentation, which is stilted and halting.

Vinnie Favace's music and lyrics are interesting and usually enjoyable, but with his book co-writer Frankie Kenne, they have created a rambling theatre piece.  It is only made worse by director Terry Berliner, who constantly interrupts the action, especially by staging so many songs with the cast posturing blatantly.  This only further distances the characters from the action.