As one of the shows I had anticipated most in this year's NYMF (between performances of three stunning songs at NYTB in the D-Lounge back in August and the announcement of a stunning cast), The Yellow Wood had so much possibility to disappoint. But despite its many faults, The Yellow Wood's heart and sheer audacity made it one of the most enjoyable shows of the festival so far.
Chronicling the events of one Ritalin-free day in the life of an ADD Korean teen while he tries to memorize Robert Frost's most famous poem may not seem like material ripe for musicalization, but the endless limits of Adam's imagination allow for inventive sequences whose insanity is only enhanced by the addition of songs. After all, many of the population suspend disbelief for science fiction or slapstick comedy but draw the line at the musical, citing that people don't just burst into a number in the middle of their day. This is the world how Adam Davies sees it, full of animals, villains, problems to solve and yes, songs.
And what a world it is. In the realm of high school he has to deal with class president nominee Amber Santall, evil English teacher Mrs Mackleby, revolutionary best friend Casserole, his genius sister Gwen and the 'pretty cool girl' he meets in art class. In his imagination he has to deal with the terrifying evil bird, an unfinished bridge his loved ones keep crossing, two-headed monsters and various Korean relatives. Both fully realized, each world is inviting but terrifying, Adam's everyday problems just as menacing as the enemies in his head.
Supporting the strong book are the dazzling songs by Danny Larsen. Many of the strongest songs could play beautifully out of context ("Normal," "Yellow" and "Door/Window") but even those that are inextricably integrated into the show ("Point B," "Video Gameage") have charm and wit in spades. The performances, too, are dazzling. Jason Tam holds anchor of the show as Adam Davies, showing his frustration with his condition with an innocence and ferver that is utterly compelling. His gorgeous clear voice, so underutilized as Paul in A Chorus Line, gets more than enough of a showcase here. The supporting cast is uniformly excellent - Randy Blair deserves special note for stopping the show with "Tater Tot Casserole", and Caissie Levy and Yuka Takara as the two girls in Adam's life are perfect counterpoints to each other. Also, shoutout to Dennis Moench - I never laughed so much as I did at his cold sore line.
It's not a perfect show, and certainly not for everybody. I found the fantasy sequences engaging and exciting, though I've spoken to others for whom they fell flat. Certainly it has promise, though, and enough strong elements to satisfy any fan of musical theater.
I want a yellow umbrella!
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