Herndon's unordinary night at the theatre

Carl Williams as Warren and Anna Phillips-Brown as Deb in Ordinary Days at NextStop Theatre Company/Photo by Lock and Company

It could be your extraordinary day, like it is for the foursome in NextStop Theatre's newest production, Ordinary Days.

Seize the opportunity!

Welcome change every day, new acquaintances and relationships, whoever or what awaits your life and pleasure around the next bend.

If you are lucky like Deb (Anna Phillips-Brown) who loses her thesis, you'll meet Warren (Carl Williams), a blissfully happy artist (huh? Artists are "happy"? He must not be an artist!) who finds and returns Deb's papers to brighten her life and those around Warren. (We all could use a little "Warren" in our lives.) 

Or, take a couple who is not a couple, but wait! Maybe, they are, after all. Bobby Libby is Jason and Sarah Anne Sillers is Claire, the twosome who "find each other" like Deb's papers and Warren "find" Deb.


Do you sometimes wish that the search for meaning and a better life would end so we could just ride along for the sheer enjoyment of another day? It is not to be among most of this crew of dissatisfied 20-and 30-somethings in New York City, but that's New York, isn't it?

 
The stars are the excellent acting which supply zest and humor to the musical, almost engulfed by Ms. Phillips-Brown's strong voice and dynamic personality. One couple contemplates marriage, and the other joins in to wonder what brought them together. Their lives cross. 

It's not always about sex.

Without the non-stop accompaniment by Elisa Rosman on the keyboards (who has no time for even one quick breather), these "ordinary days" would be anything but extraordinary. The one-woman orchestra ties it all together with energetic playing and direction. A total musical with ne'er a word spoken.

Upon entering the theatre, you experience the sensation that you have below you (the seats are elevated with excellent viewing from all) a surrealistic scene or gallery in a museum which indeed is what it is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyond its walls, the exteriors become effective places for coffee and chats while the interior nicely transitions into an apartment for the reckoning of said betrothed couple. (JD Madsen was the scenic designer.)

Visuals of contemporary Big Apple scenes are projected on three screens throughout the show, and although they often change, the dialogue and action are not disrupted.

Adam Gwon wrote the music and the lyrics.

Jay D. Brock directs. Other creative team members are
Kristen P Ahern, costumes;  Doug Del Pizzo, lighting; Evan Hoffmann, sound; Chris Foote, properties; Laura Moody, production stage manager; Quoc Tran, rehearsal stage manager and assistant director; Regan Hattersley, assistant stage manager; and Suzy Alden, scenic painter.

What: Ordinary Days 

Duration:  About 90 minutes without intermission

When:  Through Mar. 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at 7 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., and a Saturday matinee, March 14 at 2 p.m.  

Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. Lots of great restaurants nearby.

Tickets:  Start at $40.  
 

Language: Rated X 

Lighted, free parking: Available near the door. 

Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats

For more information: 703-481-5930 or info@nextstoptheatre.org

patricialesli@gmail.com