Burnsville – aParkway Playhouse celebrates the magic of everyday connections and lucky coincidences with their current production of the musical Ordinary Days. Directed by Jeff Catanese, the sung-through musical opened on August 9 and runs through August 18 at the Burnsville performance space.
Composer Adam Gwon created the music and lyrics for Ordinary Days during a fellowship with the Dramatists Guild of America, and the piece had its New York premiere with the Roundabout Theater Group in 2009. It has since become a popular choice for theaters around the world.
Ordinary Days explores the small but impactful connections between four young New Yorkers. Deb, a grad student, crosses paths with the optimistic Warren, who has been hired to do menial tasks for a famous artist while struggling to find his own voice. The intense Claire navigates a new relationship with hopeless romantic Jason. Through more than twenty songs, the four characters’ lives intersect in both comedic and poignant ways. Under Catanese’s capable direction, the musical reminds us of the importance of these brief but meaningful connections, especially in a city of millions of people.
Joby Lavery is instantly endearing as he takes the stage and brings a warmth to his role as Warren. Kelli Hall wins plenty of laughs as Deb, with a comedic intensity as she navigates the Big City. Eric Martinez’s impressive vocal skill was on display as Jason, and Lily X Bartleson offered the most emotionally grounded performance as Claire. The performance is at its best when the small ensemble digs beneath the humor and finds genuine emotional connections with the score and with one another. With music direction by Lynda Schuler, the small cast blends well as an ensemble. The moments when all four take the stage at once—physically and vocally united even as they all navigate separate stories—were moments when the play really shines. Pianist John Crawley deserves special acknowledgment for his solo accompaniment of the entire production.
The action takes place on a minimal, two-level set, and Catanese makes excellent use of the space. The action is augmented with just a handful of charmingly low-fi props. The production uses projected images of parks, apartments, and offices along the rear wall to establish locations for each scene. The projections are a creative touch, but they become almost unnecessary as it’s the performers themselves who bring the city to life.
Coming in at just under 90 minutes with no intermission, this production of Ordinary Days is a brief, pleasant evening of musical theater that is both touching and funny.
The Parkway Playhouse was established as a summer stock theater in 1947 and touts itself as the oldest continuously operating summer theater in North Carolina. In addition to Main Stage productions like Ordinary Days, the theater offers new play development. The Appalachian Playwriting Festival will feature staged readings of three new plays that celebrate Appalachian culture on September 21 and 22. This commitment to both classic and contemporary theater underscores Parkway Playhouse’s dedication to enriching the cultural landscape of the region. The theater not only serves as a platform for established works but also nurtures emerging playwrights, providing them with an audience and a venue to showcase their talents. As the community gathers to enjoy productions like Ordinary Days, it fosters a shared appreciation for the arts that transcends generations. Whether you’re a lifelong theater enthusiast or new to the experience, Parkway Playhouse invites everyone to partake in the joy and connection that live performances bring. Each show is an opportunity to celebrate the magic of storytelling, making it an essential part of the local cultural fabric. With each performance, Parkway Playhouse continues to inspire and engage audiences, ensuring that the arts remain a vital part of community life.