It Shoulda Been You

The George Street Playhouse has opened their newest feature, "It Shoulda Been You," an original musical comedy that is billed as a show for "Anyone with parents."

The premise of the show is simple - it is a wedding day. The mother of the bride is Jewish. The mother of the groom is Catholic. The sister of the bride is outshined by her sister, in their mother's eyes. An ex-boyfriend decides to show up, and from there it's off.

Despite being a premise that's been done before, director David Hyde Pierce (best known for his role on TV's "Frasier") has put together a show that contains a lot of humor, both subtle and laugh out loud, and puts a lot of twists into the plotline, which runs about two hours long.

It's hard to say who shines brightest in this production - Tyne Daly plays the overbearing, outspoken Jewish mom, Judy, who is hellbent on having the most picture perfect wedding for her daughter, Rebecca. That leaves other daughter Jenny, played by Lisa Howard, to organize the day and deal with her mother's guilt tripping. Harriet Harris, cast as the mother of the groom, delivers plenty of subtle jabs and antagonism toward Daly's Judy, but you grow to like her more toward the end of the play.

Jessica Hershberg is the jittery bride, Rebecca, and jells well with Richard Kline, playing the family patriarch, rounding out a believable family. Kline's character is put through a lot from his wife and daughters but in the end is still the proud papa.

The cast has a fully original score and lyrics to work with, with music and concept by Barbara Anselmi and book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove.

Howard's Broadway-skilled vocal range is given a chance to show in "Jenny's Blues," and "I Never Wanted This."

Daly has the best song of the night with "Nice," a teeth-gritted account of playing well with Harris's character, but the most laughs of the show went to Edward Hibbert as a clairvoyant wedding planner, Albert.

The supporting cast includes Matthew Hydzik as the bumbling groom, Curtis Holbrook as his equally awkward best man, and Carla Duren as the patient maid of honor. Tom Deckman and Mylinda Hull play multiple roles well, switching back and forth between characters seamlessly.

David Josefsberg is likable as the ex-boyfriend, and brings with him some of the humor he excelled at in past George Street Playhouse productions like The Toxic Avenger. Howard McGillin does not get as much center stage time as the father of the groom, but still draws some laughs.

"It Shoulda Been You" is fresh and funny, with a talented cast of both veteran and new actors. Anyone who has been through a wedding, is planning a wedding, or, like the Playhouse says, "Has parents,' will probably see some of their own family quirks in the plot.

"It Shoulda Been You" runs through Nov. 6 at the George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave. Tickets are $78.50.

For more information, visit www.georgestreetplayhouse.org.