'My Life Is A Musical' Is Two Hours Of Hilarity - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1351349

'My Life Is A Musical' Is Two Hours Of Hilarity

icon 5 Photos

author on Aug 5, 2014

You will walk away from “My Life is a Musical” chuckling over the pile of extremely clever rhymes embedded in the lyrics and dialogue, wishing you could remember some of them to amuse and amaze your friends—“What did Connie Chung rhyme with? Or husband Maury? Randy or Sandy—something better than dandy! What’s low-fat margarine again?”

You’re going to have to find out for yourself. This writer dude is not imbued with the mental food to recall every joke written by the talented bloke that is Adam Overett. This young musical-comedy mastermind wrote book/music and lyrics for this world premiere of a delightfully silly play that will lift your mood with its infectious good humor and wit. Marlo Hunter brightly directs “My Life is a Musical,” the last of the summer productions for Bay Street Theater’s Main Stage in Sag Harbor.

It is the story of a young man, Parker, who hears nearly everything in song and wishes he didn’t—until he is recruited to be the dorky company accountant for a struggling rock band named Zeitgeist.

Zeitgeist has one of those sexy, skinny, cool, airhead singers—Zach—whom JT, the beautiful blonde band manager, secretly loves. Trouble is, Zeitgeist sucks and Zach can’t write a song worth a damn until Parker starts giving him the lines on the down-low: the lyrics he hears the people around him singing.

Acclaim and fame come next.

Of course, this being the current time, the most influential blogger of the music blogosphere suspects something is afoul and is determined to get to the truth. Enter Randy, portrayed by big, beefy, trench-coated, fedora-wearing Robert Cuccioli to absolute zany perfection.

He’s a spoof of every spy character familiar to audiences. Mr. Cuccioli appears as a bearded blogger with a Russian accent, a suave James Bond—or was that Frank Sinatra, with cigarette?—the Pink Panther, an old man with a limp, and other incarnations too numerable to list (and remember, if truth be told). No matter, Mr. Cuccioli is a hoot with a deep, rich baritone and enough wicked stage presence to steal every scene he’s in.

Howie Michael Smith as the lead, Parker, is agreeably befuddled by his predicament of hearing music everywhere and longs for “Perfect Silence,” one of the few somber tunes in the oeuvre. Mr. Smith, who starred as the dual roles of Princeton/Rod in “Avenue Q” on Broadway, is best when paired with JT, performed and sung by Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone. Her joy and electricity brighten all her numbers. The best comes in the first act, “Someone Else’s Song,” performed with the nimble, quick-as-lightening ensemble of four—each of whom plays more parts than fingers on both hands.

Justin Matthew Sargent is Zach, the inane rocker she loves, and he is brilliant as the dim-witted and nearly out-of-it doofus every moment he’s on stage. One of his “original” lyrics: “My love is like a penguin …” Mr. Sargent happily milks the role, for he not only sings, but also brings his rich physical ability to Zach. Mr. Sargent was Spiderman in “Spiderman—Turn off the Dark” for the last several months of the production’s run on Broadway. Mr. Cuccioli is another veteran of “Spiderman.” Surely he played some bad guy.

There is actually little dialogue between the songs—that’s the point for Parker, isn’t it?—but it’s often just as ingeniously funny and poetic as the non-stop rhyming lyrics. Both the muses of comedy and lyric poetry bestowed gifts on Mr. Overett. Watch for more from him.

Other memorable numbers are “What Have You Got to Hide” by Randy and the ensemble; “Looking for Randy” by Parker and the ensemble; and “Go!” by the full company.

The latter is a hilarious montage of various modes of transportation—plane, cab, boat, raft, bus, bicycle, children’s carnival rides—as Parker races cross country to redeem himself and claim JT. It’s almost unbelievable that the cast can change costumes as fast as they do and get themselves attached to some new mode of transportation that comes flying across the stage lickety-split before the next one does. They are only four in the antic, energetic ensemble—Brian Sills, Adam Daveline, Danyel Fulton and Wendi Bergamini—but they act like 10.

While it’s the lyrics you will try to remember, what you will not come away with is a tune that reverberates in the morning. No matter. The production at Bay Street is two-plus hours of hilarity. “Go!,” as the song says. You will leave laughing.

“My Life Is a Musical” stages Tuesdays to Sundays, through August 31, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. Performances are Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; Wednesdays at 2 and 8 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m; and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets start at $62.55. For more information, call 725-9500 or visit baystreet.org.

You May Also Like:

Springs Artist Fitzhugh Karol Debuts Outdoor Sculpture Show at Duck Creek

The Arts Center at Duck Creek will present “Fitzhugh Karol: On the Grounds,” a site-specific ... 8 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

La Goulue Sur Mer Arrives in Southampton, With a Dash of Chaos and a Side of Style

“Is it true?” said the anxious DM on my Instagram account. “Is La Goulue really ... by Steven Stolman

Art on a Line: Guild Hall’s Clothesline Sale Hangs Tough for 2025

Guild Hall’s beloved Clothesline Art Sale returns on Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The annual event, a Hamptons tradition since 1946, transforms the museum’s lawn into a sea of original artwork — hung on clotheslines — and offers visitors the chance to purchase local art at accessible prices. Jackson Pollock once sold a painting at the sale for $250, and past participants have included Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio, Elaine and Willem de Kooning and other art-world icons. The event continues to offer a rare opportunity for the public to view and purchase work by East End ... by Staff Writer

The Climate-Friendly Fitness Routine

“Live simply so that others might simply live” — Mahatma Gandhi The first time I ... by Jenny Noble

Joy Behar Gets the Last Laugh in ‘My First Ex-Husband' at Bay Street Theater, July 14-19

Emmy Award-winning comedian and co-host of “The View,” Joy Behar stars in “My First Ex-Husband,” a bold, funny and heartfelt new play based on true stories from her life. The limited engagement runs July 14 through 19, at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. With razor-sharp wit and no filters, “My First Ex-Husband” explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex and relationships. Adapted from Behar’s personal experiences, the show is both deeply personal and widely relatable. Behar will appear on stage on July 14, 18 and 19. Also appearing nightly, July 14 through 19, are Veanne Cox, a Tony-nominated ... by Staff Writer

Experience the Rhythms of Brazil With Nilson Matta’s Voyage Quartet

Grammy-nominated bassist Nilson Matta will lead his Brazilian Voyage Quartet at The Church on Friday, July 25, at 6 p.m. The concert is part of Hamptons JazzFest. The group features acclaimed guitarist Chico Pinheiro and offers a rich exploration of samba, bossa nova and modern Brazilian jazz. Matta, a founding member of the renowned Trio da Paz and longtime collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma on the Grammy-winning “Obrigado Brazil” project, is known for blending traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary jazz. His lyrical bass playing and deep rhythmic connection have earned him international acclaim. Guitarist Chico Pinheiro, recognized as a leading voice ... by Staff Writer

At the Galleries for July 10, 2025

Montauk The Depot Art Gallery, at the Montauk railroad station at the corner of Flamingo ... by Staff Writer

Round and About for July 10, 2025

Fireworks Shelter Island Fireworks The Shelter Island fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 12, ... by Staff Writer

Curtis Institute of Music Alumni and Faculty To Perform in East Hampton on July 22

Talented alumni and faculty from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music will tour the East Coast this summer, with a concert scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton. The event is presented by Music for Montauk. The program features beloved melodies ranging from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” to works by Brahms and de Falla. Performers include mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg, violinist Elissa Lee Koljonen, pianist Hanchien Lee, and Curtis Institute President and violist Roberto Díaz. The concert program includes: Manuel de Falla’s “Suite Populaire Espagnole,” performed by Díaz (viola) and Lee (piano); ... by Staff Writer

'Bonnie & Clyde' Cast and Crew Announced for Bay Street Musical

Bay Street Theater has unveiled the complete cast and creative teams for its pulse-pounding musical ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer