**** Recommended **** The latest production at the Towle Theater, a rock opera called Murder Ballad, is an undiscovered gem about a love triangle (?) that goes bad – really, really bad! By the way, in a rock opera the music continues throughout the story meaning there are no pauses for applause. I really enjoyed Murder Ballad, although a couple of my friends weren’t so sure. The cast is strong but it was really hard to hear the words whenever they sang softly. It’s just too bad it’s only a two week run. 4 Spotlights
Murder Ballad is a collaboration between Juliana Nash (music and lyrics) and Julia Jordan (book and lyrics). Murder Ballad premiered Off-Broadway in November, 2012, closing in July 2013. Although it has been produced around the world, as far as I could track, the Towle production might just be the first American production since 2013.
Murder Ballad is directed and choreographed by Jeff Casey, with vocal and music direction from Elizabeth Tuazon.
As the lights come up, the Narrator (Beck Buechel) warns the audience that someone will be murdered by the end. The Narrator goes on to introduce Tom (Ryan Alan Jones) and Sara (Natalie Rae). They both have aspirations but in the meantime, they’re working as bartenders. Instant attraction when they meet leads to an intense relationship which inevitably cools, leading to a drunken breakup.
By the way, the Narrator continues to insert comments as the story progresses.
On the way home, Sara crashes into Michael (Christopher Place), who teaches poetry at New York University. When he won’t kiss her because she’s a messy drunk, she’s infuriated. Concerned, he takes her to his apartment to sober up, but she manages to seduce him.
Tom, who’s still bartending, dreams about owning his own club. He’s bitter after Sara dumped him. Michael gives up poetry for an MBA, they move into an uptown apartment and Sara has a baby girl they name Frankie.
Several years later, Sara and Michael are growing further and further apart, Sara’s depressed, so she goes to see Tom and starts an affair. Sara tries to balance her life, but having an affair while staying married is tearing her apart.
She decides to break up with Tom, Tom vows to never let her go, and Michael finds out about Tom. Who’s going to murder whom?
Murder Ballad runs through July 16th at the Towle Theater, 5206 Hohman Avenue, Hammond. Parking is free in the lot behind the theater. Running time: about 85 minutes, no intermission. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $34. FYI (219) 937-8780 or www.towletheater.org.
Photos by Wes Bushby.