Stereophonic

 Stereophonic
Golden Theatre
October 26, 2024 

Photo courtesy of Stereophonic

The Tony Award winning Broadway production of Stereophonic is a unique and engaging experience.  Playwright David Adjmi draws you into the relationships, challenges, and backstories of the characters.  His well-crafted dialogue causes you to lean forward and listen carefully.  The phenomenal cast, under the masterful direction of Daniel Aukin, plays the rich subtext, raising the stakes in every moment.  Heated arguments flare up, rooted in ambition, jealousy, and need.

It is 1976 in a recording studio in Sausalito, California.  The band is cutting their second album.  Diana (played by Amy Forsyth) just had a single from their previous album rise high on the charts.  Peter (played by Benjamin Anthony Anderson), who is her lover and manager of the band, is proud of her, but also threatened by her rising success.  Reg, the bass player (played by Will Brill), arrives drunk for the recording session.  Grover, the sound engineer (played by Eli Gelb) confesses to his assistant, Charlie (played by understudy Denver Milord), that he lied about his experience to get this job.  He is nervous about the band members finding out, so he keeps them supplied with alcohol and cocaine.  Holly, the keyboard player (played by Rebecca Naomi Jones), confides in Diana that she is moving out of the house the band shares because she needs space.  She bought a condo.  When Reg retreats under a blanket in his usual funk at the end of the session, the drummer, Simon (played by Chris Stack), tries to cheer him up.  Peter, looking to bond, joins in their conversation.  He admits that his brother is competing in the Olympics.  His whole family is watching the televised swim meet, except him.  His choice is to be in the recording studio with the band.  Every time the band records a track, they fight.  Every piece of advice for improvement is taken as a personal criticism.  The more they try to separate the work from their personal lives, the more entwined they all become.  When their album is completed, it goes to number one on the charts, and the complex entanglements accelerate. 

Photo courtesy of Stereophonic

This is truly an ensemble piece.  Each character is precisely developed.  Their needs, ambitions, and flaws are distinct and intense, creating a dynamic that fuels their work together.  As their success increases, so does their dependence on one another, causing deep-seeded conflict in their ability to achieve their individual objectives.  Some of them rise independently from this struggle, and some do not.  Each character has their own arc of growth and self-awareness, creating a realistic tone and enthralling atmosphere.  This cast has a phenomenal connection, each delivering fierce portrayals of these compelling characters.

Stereophonic is playing at the Golden Theatre through January 12.  It is skillfully written, directed, and performed.  You will be fully immersed in the passions of the characters for the three-hour fifteen-minute running time.  Don’t miss it! 

Domenick Danza