City Kid

There have been many plays and or musicals about youth in trouble. Notable examples would be DEAD END, WEST SIDE STORY, THE ME NOBODY KNOWS, BARE, and of course ROMEO AND JULIET. There is nothing new or unexpected in the story presented in CITY KID THE MUSICAL currently playing at the Hudson Backstage Theatre.

     What is different about CITY KID is the fact that the show is completely sung and is a street ballet . The musical score by the song writing team of Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff is a toe-tapping and finger-snapping exuberant expression of teen angst in contemporary musical form.  The outstanding choreography by Bradley (Shooz) Rapier coupled with the fast moving slick direction by Steve Tompkins make for an exciting evening in the theatre.

     Best of all is the very talented cast. Marliss Amiea is the sultry and sexy Lena, the girlfriend of the charismatic leader of the City Kids gang, Slick, played with
gusto and enormous sex appeal by Thomas Hobson. The star crossed lovers are expressively  played by Ariella Paul as Anna and John Keefe as Jimmy. These kids are stars in the making. I also enjoyed Jake Wesley Stewart as Jimmy’s best friend Danny. He has a lovely simple voice thaI found quite moving.  The rest of the young cast is very good too.

     The problem with CITY KID THE MUSICAL is the story. It doesn’t hold up to close examination. It is never really clear what a kid would get by joining Slick though he is always telling them to follow him for undisclosed glory. Nor does it make sense when Jimmy returns from a stint in prison totally untouched. A cute kid like that would be victimized. . The very fact that the story is so predictable is its ultimate downfall.
Still I think the evening is well worth a viewing.