Little musical ‘[title of show]’ worth discovering at Onyx

Even though it played the Great White Way -- as well as off-Broadway -- "[title of show]" is the sort of gem people love to brag about having seen in a tiny off-Broadway venue. Its charm, small ambition and simple cleverness is the sort of intimate experience just begging for discovery. And it's now sitting in wait at the Onyx Theatre in a local off-Strip production.

The show's quiet amusement is in watching two star-struck New Yorkers, Hunter (J.R. Thomas) and Jeff (Tony Blosser), trying to write a musical with a little help from their friends Heidi (Evelyn Connors) and Susan (Carolin Feigs). They've got three weeks, 'cause that's an upcoming festival's deadline. They are so tight on schedule, that when it comes time to list on the application the title of their show, they simply write, [title of show]. (Of course, they do it in song.)

Further deepening the enjoyment is the script's authenticity. The two main characters really did write the script, and maybe that's why so many small moments feel so entertainingly lifelike.

What's impressive about Tobie Romzek's direction is that he captures the pleasingly small scope of the show's world. The four gifted actors never push laughs, never feel like only performers.

Although there are plenty of "inside" jokes, the basic story -- about cutting through negativity -- gives the script a dimension that goes beyond its immediate subject (although there are one or three times where the songs get a bit gooey).

Thomas is teddy-bear loony as the bookwriter. He makes you want his character to succeed. Connors and Feigs give off the vibes you'd expect from young, up-and-coming New York actresses: physically attractive, full of stage charisma and eager to be the center of attention. Yet, you never feel they're playing types.

Blosser doesn't have the presence that his role as the music/lyrics writer needs. He lacks a leading man's control of his body.

But when the four actors sing -- solo or together -- this little show swells with talent. If you didn't discover it on or off-Broadway, it's well worth discovering at the Onyx.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at vegastheaterchat @aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.