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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. I & You: The Musical The Olney Theatre Center in the Maryland suburbs of Washington has a long history with I & You: The Musical, now on its Roberts Mainstage. Olney staged Lauren Gunderson's original non-musical play in 2014 as part of a rolling world premiere. The company is now partnering with the McCarter Theatre Center in New Jersey to present the transcendent musical adaptation created by Gunderson in collaboration with composer-lyricist Ari Afsar, directed with sensitivity by Sarah Rasmussen. The play, which runs about 90 minutes with no intermission, takes a deep dive into the lives of two high school students reaching beyond their isolation to complete a school project on the writing of 19th-century poet Walt Whitman. Caroline (Alex De Bard) is learning remotely from home as she awaits a life-saving liver transplantm while Anthony (J. Antonio Rodriguez), a gregarious athlete, wants her to help him create a presentation; the other class members are all working together in pairs. She has her doubts, but their connections grow as gradually they learn more about each other. The audience picks up a lot of details about Caroline before she even speaks. Beowulf Boritt's richly textured set focuses on her attic bedroom, cluttered with photographs and stuffed animals, bedecked with lights in various colors and vividly painted walls. She's also a singer and songwriter, venting her anger and frustration through sharp-edged lyrics and punkish tunes. Anthony, on the other hand, is more easygoing and prefers the cooler jazz style of John Coltrane. Afsar does a lovely job of bringing the characters together through the shared melodies and lyrics. De Bard, familiar to Olney audiences from Hello, Dolly! and Disney's Frozen earlier this season, is a marvel: she portrays a young woman forced to grow up too soon yet hanging on despite the angst and uncertainty of her future. She shows how Caroline's intelligence and outspokenness keep her going instead of collapsing under the stress she faces daily. Rodriguez is a fine counterweight, outwardly confident and delighted to introduce Caroline to Whitman's poetry, but also dealing with serious issues of his own. The final scene between them is astonishing in both its performances and its technical aspects. (The understudies are Alexandra Lopez and Kishan Rao.) Adding to the intensity of the staging are the vividly colorful lighting design by Japhy Weideman and Stefania Bulbarella's swirling projections. Marika Countouris conducts four other musicians from the piano, underscoring the deep emotions of the production. I & You: The Musical runs through May 24, 2026, at Olney Theatre Center, Roberts Mainstage, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney MD. For tickets and information, please call 301-924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org. Book by Lauren M. Gunderson Cast: |
