Five years after Diversionary Theatre secured the rights for the West Coast premiere of writer/composer Mark Sonnenblick’s cabaret-style musical “Midnight at the Never Get,” the pandemic-delayed show finally opened on Saturday night. It was worth the wait.
Subtly and movingly directed by Stephen Brotebeck and featuring a career-topping performance by local actor Bryan Banville, “Midnight” is a musical, a comedy, a history story and a mystery tale all wrapped up in one highly entertaining 90-minute show.
The show is set in 1965 Greenwich Village in a secret gay cabaret club called The Never Get, as in the artists never get paid and it never gets much attention. The star of the club’s weekly midnight show is Trevor, the playful and energetic host and singer, who’s accompanied by his more-reserved pianist boyfriend Arthur, who writes all the show’s songs about their own love story.
But in the opening minutes of the show, it’s clear that something’s amiss. Between songs, Trevor tells the audience about their relationship, but then the story shifts to the past tense. Trevor’s memory for details is also fuzzy, and the man at the keyboard is not actually Arthur.
As the mystery of the play unfolds, the “never get” title begins to makes more sense. Despite their love for one another, Trevor and Arthur never get a chance at a happily ever after. This is New York in the pre-Stonewall days, when gay men could be beaten and arrested for simply being themselves.
Trevor s the growing street protests for LGBTQ rights in the Village, while the conservative and self-loathing Arthur fears exposure. Arthur also has bigger plans beyond the cabaret stage and doubts he can ever achieve them as an openly gay man.
Writer Sonnenblick artfully weaves together Trevor and Arthur’s story with true historical events, from the Stonewall riots to the dawn of Rock ‘n’ Roll to the AIDS epidemic. His 13-song score has an ear-pleasing, retro Cole Porter sound, and his lyrics tell the couple’s story as well as the script.
As Trevor, Banville has found a great vehicle for his talents as a singer, comedian and entertainer, and under Brotebeck’s direction, his acting talents particularly shine. While Trevor’s trademark is over-the-top giddiness, Banville underpins it with vulnerability and pain. As the pianist (and Arthur’s stand-in), Cody Bianchi is an exceptional piano player and he’s cool and understated as an actor, providing good contrast to Banville.
The production looks like a million bucks with a lush blue velvet club set by Yi-Chien Lee, elegant tuxedo costumes by Claire Peterson, lighting by Nayeli Bailey and sound by Janine Rose. The two actors are ed onstage by a four-piece, tux-clad band.
“Midnight at the Never Get” is a very good show that’s funny and sad, with a surprise and heart-tugging twist at the end.
‘Midnight at the Never Get’
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 17
Where: Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., University Heights
Tickets: $10-$70
Phone: 619-220-0097
Online: diversionary.org
