Review of Eighty-1

July 21, 2008 at 5:39 pm (Culture)

What happens when you bring a classic novel like Around the World in Eighty Days and bring the novel into modern times? You get FACADE’s Eighty-1, which is a musical adaptation of the novel in that takes place in present-day London. The play overall was a pretty decent experience for someone who has never read said novel.

First off, the set has a very bare bones design, which is normal for a production that is a part of a festival. All there is is a trunk on the floor and a platform for the person playing on the keyboard. It was really funny how they improvised all the different forms of transportation they used on the trunk that was lying on the floor. I just wish there was a little bit more on the stage, but I will give it a pass. 3/5 for Set

The characters in the play are also pretty good too. The main protagonists are Phileas Fogg IV (Daniel Lincoln), who recreates his great grandfather’s quest to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. There is a reporter by the name of “Fixey” Fix (Nicole Weiss), who is a reporter who is also the reluctant love interest of Fogg. Fogg’s brother JP Passepartout (Brayden Hade), follows him on his journey.  The main villains of the play, Ralph Sullivan (David Albiero), and Lord Albemarle (John Anthony Lopez), are out to prevent Fogg from reaching his goal. Finally, there is Princess Aleysha (Jen Anaya), who is a set-up to put Fogg and company behind schedule. The characters seemed to mesh well with each other although the British accents on Sullivan and Albemarle were not that great. It just seemed a little bland. Other than that, the characters are good. 4/5 for characters.

The music was like a cross between a low-rent knockoff of Broadway showtune hits, to some pretty enjoyable numbers. Nicole Weiss has a pretty good voice along with Daniel Lincoln. The real standout was a pretty good ballad with a scene that was pretty funny called “Out On The Ice.” This was when the team was in New York and Fogg and “Fixey” Fix do some “ice skating” on a solid floor. Other than that, the music seemed like any Off-Off-Broadway Musical, trying to make it like Broadway, but fails often. 2.5/5

The plot is basically similar to the plot of Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg IV decides to place a bet with the Reform Club of London, that he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days. If he wins, he will be rewarded handsomely. If he does not, he will lose everything. He goes out on his journey while the owners of the Reform Club are doing everything in their power to stop Fogg from reaching his goal. Will he make it in time or will he lose everything? The plot has a unique twist in it, so be sure to check out the play to see it. This twist gives the plot a 4/5

Overall, this play should be checked out if you really want to have a real mindless diversion without having to think intellectually.

Final Score 3.5/5

Eighty-1 is playing at the June Havoc Theatre at 312 West 36th St. in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York. It is a part of the Midtown international Theatre Festival. The official website where you can find this and other shows at the festival is located at www.midtownfestival.org