Journeyman Theatre "Generation Why" review by Guildenstern

 

Rockin musical for the youth to embrace

Rating: 5

Generation Why

Journeyman Theatre Company

Amidst all the hoopla surrounding the opening of the Kauffman Center, one thing seems to have been forgotten. Namely, everything else that's going on in this city. And while music flowed all weekend from the Kauffman Center stages, good ole' rock and roll was notably absent. The rockers were down the street at the Just Off Broadway Theatre, where "Generation Why," a rock musical by the band Shudder, was angrily challenging the very "Man" that built our celebrated armadillo.

Perhaps it's only appropriate that this little show in the valley has been drowned out by the gleaming castle on the hill. It gives validity to an otherwise often-told story, a story that its creators readily admit has been told again and again. It's the story of one generation assuming control from the previous generation. Drawing upon the amazing sociological work of William Strauss and Neil Howe, who proposed a generational history of America, "Generation Why" recounts the "journey of rising against a 'cruel' authority, only to find yourself the same person you're rising against."  There's an old Who song that said the same thing to the generation in power now, but they probably fail to see the irony. Irony's more of a Generation X thing, anyway.

As someone who feels Broadway flubbed its opportunity to embrace rock music in the seventies, we need musicals like "Generation Why" much more than we need another showtuned movie on stage.  "Generation Why" features some stunning music that's a throwback to the prog-rock concept album days of yore, much like Green Day's recent reincarnation with "American Idiot."

The cast is full of enthusiasm and Emma Taylor and Francisco "Pancho" Villegas are particularly outstanding performers. Most of the lyrics get lost in the noise, but the story is adequately told visually thanks to some sure direction by Gregory Chafin. It would have helped if the body mics and music could have been mixed better, but that seems like a continual problem on stages all over town. Nevertheless, the power of the music comes through loud and clear. It's worth repeat listens and can be streamed from Shudder's website www.shuddermusic.com.

I watched a news report about people paying $500 for tickets to the Kauffman Center and not having a clue (or not even caring) what it was they were there to see. It's nice to know that in some corners of Kansas City people do care what they're paying for, and there are artists creating new, bold, and adventurous works right here within city limits. If only there were an audience ready for the challenge.

I might add that the weekend was also the debut of the much improved Just Off Broadway Theatre, with a real lobby and everything. It's very nice and worth checking out.