John & Jen

John & Jen

Keen Company
The Clurman Theatre / Theatre Row

Sunday, February 15, 2015

John & Jen is the second production I have seen at Keen Company this season.  The first was Lee Blessing’s A Walk in the Woods with Kathleen Chalfant and Paul Niebanck.  Expertly directed by Keen’s Artistic Director, Jonathan Silverstein, these productions have made me a big fan and follower of Keen Company.

Kate Baldwin and Conor Ryan in John & Jen
Photo courtesy of Keen Company

John & Jen is a heartfelt, two-character musical by Andrew Lippa (music and book) and Tom Greenwald (lyrics and book).  It tells the story of John and Jen, a brother and sister, how close they were growing up, how they grew apart, and how love and fears of letting go transfer through a generation.  I purposely do not want to tell any more about this unique musical so you can experience the journey first hand.  Personally, I was carried back to memories of my relationship between me and my youngest brother, and how that has transferred down to my young nephew.  It is clearly relatable story that should not be missed. 

Jen is magnificently played by Kate Baldwin.  I saw her in the Broadway production of Big Fish last season.  She was marvelous in that as well.  John is tenderly played by Conor Ryan.  He was previously seen in the Public Theatre production of The Fortress of Solitude.  Their chemistry is magical as we watch their characters grow up before our eyes.  Their transformation from childhood through puberty into adolescence and then young adulthood is seamless and magically crafted.

Director Jonathan Silverstein is gifted at finding the moments where the growth in the relationships between the characters intimately moves the action forward and allows the audience to ride through the story.  The musical staging is by Christine O’Grady.  Her movement fills the space and develops the characters with care, precision, and detail.

The set, by Steven C. Kemp, is a mixture of geometric structures that are utilized in various and imaginative ways.  It works very well as a unit set for this story that travels through decades of time and numerous settings.  It is painted in dark and intense colors that, unfortunately, do not allow the space to illuminate with the range of emotion the play spans.  Josh Bradford’s lighting is very well done, but hindered by the darkness of the set structures.

John & Jen is sure to be well received.  Go see it!  I am looking forward to returning to Keen Company for their next production.

Domenick Danza