review - JASPER IN DEADLAND - Brelby Theatre Company

Jack Taylor and Falin Ossipinsky
photo by Shelby Maticic

by Carolyn Thomas

If Scott Pilgrim and Beetlejuice had a musical spawn, it would absolutely be Brelby Theatre Company's Jasper in Deadland. With a bold visual theme and ambitious score, Jasper in Deadland is a monster of a show to put on. Brelby's production more than excels in concept, though narrowly misses the mark in execution.

Loosely based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Hunter Foster and Ryan Scott Oliver's Jasper in Deadland follows Jasper, a troubled teen at a low point. Everything in his life seems to be going to hell, except for his best friend Agnes, but when she disappears with only a note leading him to their cliff, he follows her into the waters below, into Deadland.

Jasper in Deadland features many familiar figures to those with a love of mythos, including Loki, Hel, Persephone, and more. The musical's comedy relies quite heavily on stereotypes, unfortunately. The story doesn't truly take off until the second act, it almost feels as if the two acts were written by different people. It's a fast-paced musical with dozens of different characters played primarily by ensemble members, and there's a bit of audience whiplash in trying to keep up with the different names and faces. The musical is greatly aided by Brelby's electric, graphic-novel-inspired look, which helps each character truly stand out, even if they're only seen briefly.

Jack Taylor as the lead, Jasper, excels best in the second act when he has a chance to show his comedic chops, though the musical range proves a bit of a challenge, Taylor nails the essence of angsty-teenaged-boy on the head. He's charming and quite hilarious in his deadpan delivery. Falin Ossipinsky brings a very Ramona-Flowers-esque flavor to Gretchen/Agnes, playing the perfect picture of the 'cool girl'.

With the standard boy/girl lead characters written quite to formula, there's much more room for flavor and personality in the minor characters, and Brelby has several standouts in the ensemble worth applauding. Kevin Fenderson plays the eccentric Mr. Lethe with fantastic flair, portraying him as the ultimate showman, oozing with dastardly charm. Eric Evans also excels as Virgil/Hathaway, bringing such a unique touch to every character that if not for the program, I wouldn't have realized it was the same person behind both Virgil and Hathaway. He's pure camp and delight as the latter, and a joy on stage. Jesse Pike as Eurydice/Cerberus is an absolute powerhouse with impressive skills and an expressiveness that constantly draws the eye, even when she's not in the spotlight. Allison Foulk as Little Lu is vibrant, dynamic, and devilishly hilarious. Josh Pike as Dante is an absolute showstopper, and his head of Cerberus is equally entertaining. The actors that make up Cerberus all together function in a way that's simply mesmerizing, the final head not yet mentioned being played by Leigh Hager. Hager has serious chops that get only a few moments to shine during Jasper in Deadland, but I sincerely hope to see more of her in the future. Hanna Grossenbacher showcases great personality and character work in Beatrix, another actor and character we get to see very little of, but are left wanting so much more.

Functioning as Director, Choreographer, and Costume Designer, Shelby Elise Maticic's concepts are a perfect compliment to the heart of Jasper in Deadland. The bold graphic novel style applied to visual aspects of the show bring it all together in a way that makes me wonder why the original productions didn't think to use it to begin with. It feels like it ought to have been done this way all along. The musical is challenging musically, with quick-changing, complex harmonies, so Maticic's decision to keep choreography simple and crisp is a smart one. It's an ambitious show, and with all of the other elements going on, her sharp and punchy choreography is a hit, particularly with fun touches like hand-puppets as the voices of the dead in the beginning. The conceptual elements all come together quite beautifully, with the exception of some of the execution.

Music Director Helen Morris has a challenge in Jasper in Deadland, and while most of the musical elements come together well, there are weak moments in the harmonies and quick-moving melodies that prove to be a bit challenging for the cast. Paired with some sound balance issues, at the performance I attended, there were several times where it was nearly impossible to make out what was being sung. Sound Designer Cody Caple's effects and musical backdrop paint a fitting picture for the show, however the balance could use some improvement.

Scenic Designer Brian Maticic keeps the show moving at an appropriately brisk pace with simple but emotive set pieces that quickly set each scene as Jasper moves through life and Deadland, with a brilliant finale of swimming fabric that takes the audience underwater. Wig and Makeup Designer Shelby Huston has many great successes with the graphic novel feel of her characters, most of which look as if they walked out of a Borderlands or The Wolf Among Us video game. Her wig designs are most stunning for the characters of Cerberus, Loki, Eurydice, Little Lu, Gretchen and Jasper, but several others fall short in execution. Prop Designer Rebecca Ulbrich keeps designs simple and flat, appropriate to the graphic novel visual theme. Lighting Designer Tim McCandless gets his best chance to show off in the underwater scenes, which are truly the most beautiful of the show.

While the musical itself has some drawbacks, and there are some technical weaknesses, Brelby brings something new and exciting to the table with Jasper in Deadland. For anyone with a taste for mythos, angsty teenagers, and playful macabre, Brelby's Jasper in Deadland is living the dream.

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which run through July 7