Superhero

Superhero

Second Stage Theater

Tony Kiser Theater

March 16, 2019

Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

If you need a superhero, who would you conjure or draw?  Would he save the planet, or just you?  Could you be his side-kick, or would you get kicked aside?  These are some of the questions that Simon, the main character of Superhero, now playing at Second Stage Theater, grapples with and tries to answer.  Tom Kitt’s music and lyrics take the audience on an emotionally impactful journey as Simon faces the truth and gains his footing in order to move forward.

Simon (played by Kyle McArthur) draws and writes superhero stories.  His mother, Charlotte (played by Kate Baldwin), is worried about how distant he has become since his father died.  She has been overwhelmed trying to keep her life together.  When Simon witnesses his unassuming neighbor, Jim (played by Bryce Pinkham), perform an act of superhuman strength, he starts believing Jim is a superhero, sent from another galaxy to save the planet.  He convinces his mother to have dinner with Jim to gather details of his personal life.  Once the unresolved thread of their family starts to unwind, it will take a real superhero to help Simon and Charlotte pull their lives back together.

Kate Baldwin & Kyle McArthur
Photo courtesy of Second Stage Theater

Mr. Kitt’s songs superbly develop the characters and relationships.  Kate Baldwin, Kyle McArthur, and Bryce Pinkham make every one of these moments soar.  Their vocal skills are astonishing.  They give every lyric meaning, revealing their characters’ inner need and propelling them forward to connect on a deeper level.

Beowulf Borritt’s scenic design transforms the space into the world of this play.  The transitions from one scene to the next are quick, smooth, and always unexpected.  Every set design of Mr. Borritt creates a specific atmosphere that defines the production and keeps the action moving.  He skillfully delivers that consistent quality in Superhero.  Illusion design by Chris Fisher and projection design by Tal Yarden are imaginative.  They vividly depict the world inside Simon’s head, which is vital to the action of the play. 

Superhero is playing at the Tony Kiser Theater through March 31.

Domenick Danza