By James V. Ruocco
The concept for Playhouse on Park's exhilarating revival of "Five Guys Named Moe" goes something like this.
Nomax, a boyish-looking, young black man returns home to Harlem from a night on the town, turns on the radio and sits down in his comfy armchair to forget about life, his troubles and a complicated romance with his girlfriend that has finally hit rock bottom.
Not to worry, though.
As the music plays - five suave guys from yesteryear, all of whom are smartly named Moe - suddenly appear in his living room - ghostly bluesy magic, one would say - to take the disillusioned Nomax on a musical journey of redemption where song, dance, comedy, drama and humor go hand and hand with sound advice (is there any other?) designed to shake the misguided youth out of his decided funk and start thinking about life again, his girl and how to win her back.
So, bring on the music.
Pour the whiskey.
Let the journey begin.
And let the good times roll.
Continuing its 13th season of one hit show after another, Playhouse on Park's "Five Guys Named Moe" transports its audience back in time to the intimate supper clubs of the past where jazz and the original rhythm and blues were commonplace, music was sung with effervescent-fueled power and booze-induced stupors were the nightly norm as was sharply-keyed philosophies, round-the-clock cocktails and romantic complications that smacked you right in the face the very next morning.
Entertaining.
Energetic
Intimate.
Snappy.
Tuneful.
Heartfelt.
"Five Guys Named Moe" is a wonder to behold.
As conceived by creator Clarke Peters (the show made its official UK debut in 1990 at the Cottesloe Theatre) for London's West End, the UK Fringe and Broadway, "Five Guys Named Moe" showcases the celebrated song style, skill and spirit of songwriter, saxophonist and bandleader Louis Jordan (and others), who was dubbed "The King of the Jukebox" from the late 1930's to the early 1950's. Then and now, Peter's joyful collaboration features 26 popular songs that pay homage to the musician and his musical influences, themes, specialities, urban tempos and syncopated vocals.
In order of their performance throughout the two-act musical (the show runs 90 minutes with a 15-minute interval), they are: "Early in the Morning," "Five Guys Named Moe," "Beware, Brother, Beware," "I Like 'Em Fat Like That," "Messy Bessy," "Pettin' and Pokin,' " "Life Is So Peculiar," "I Know What I've Got," "Azure Te," "Safe, Sane & Single," "Push Ka Pi Shi Pie," "Saturday Night Fish Fry," "What's the Use of Getting Sober," "If I Had Any Sense," "Dad Gum Ya Hide Boy," "Let the Good Times Roll," "Reet, Petite and Gone," "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens," "Caledonia," "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying," "Choo, Choo Ch'Boogie," "Look Out Sister," "Hurry Home," "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?" "Knock Me A Kiss" and "Five Guys Named Moe (reprise)."
For this production, musical director Dexter Pettaway, Sr., (percussion) has assembled a six-piece band that includes Kurt Eckhardt/Andrew Jones (trombone), Warren Byrd (piano/keyboard), Dakota Austin (reeds), Saskia Laroo (trumpet) and Stephen King Poter (bass). As "Five Guys Named Moe" evolves, Pettaway brings the right sense of thrill, clarity and effectiveness to Jordan's musical repertoire using a coloristic hand and nostalgic vision that gives the music its sense of purpose, vision and rhapsodic showmanship. More importantly, he doesn't waste a beat, a motion, a pause, an idea or a climax. Here, everything is front and center from the orchestrations, the vocals, the segues, the accents, the syncopations, the shifts, the harmonies and the riots of flavor and musicality.
With one song following another, Pettaway and his orchestral team create a feel-good atmosphere and aura that befits the story, the music, the characters and its ghostly/jazzy premise. What's especially fun about this revival is that the show never stops except when it comes time for the announced interval. That said, Pettaway, as musical director, jumps right in and keeps the party going using Peters' blueprint as his guide, always offering fresh interpretations of the songs themselves, adding extra sparkle, dash and sass whenever possible.
All of this is reinforced by the non-stop energy of the musicians, the play-by-play progression of the songs themselves and the slick and catchy vocals. Under Pettaway's tutelage, all of the actors have their moments to shine individually or as a group, each delivering rigorous energy, emotion, depth and camaraderie for their respective numbers. It's a win-win situation for all.
The staging of "Five Guys Named Moe," as seen through the eyes of director Brittney Griffin, respects and honors the musical's magical conceit, its mix of playful metaphors and manipulations, its addictive whimsy, its period luminosity and its added breaths of charm, sweetness, shapeshifting, swagger and lightheartedness. Using the intimate, inviting Playhouse on Park environs to flesh out the actual story, Griffin keeps the show in high gear displaying a certain savvy, dynamic and arthouse shimmer that keeps the musical in the spotlight, never once running out of steam, momentum or gate-breaking speckle. Directorially, she's a master of creation, providing both an involving and faithful production that finds voice in a kitschy, show-biz plotline that shakes, rattles and rolls and never once loses sight of its origins, pulse or playful setups.
"Five Guys Named Moe" stars Marcus Canada as Nomax, Devin Price as Little Moe, Darren Lorenzo as Big Moe, Jacquez Linder-Long as Four Eyed Moe and Arnold Harper II as Eat Moe. All six actors work especially well with one another throughout the two-act musical. There's power, emotion, determination and compassion in their singing from lead vocal to background musicality and sweet-sounding harmonies . Their ability to flesh out the story through song is uncanny. They click with the audience. Their work hard from start to finish. Their onstage vibe and intermingling is chock full of surprise, chemistry, spirit and individuality. They are also right in every way imaginable for their respective roles.
A beautifully staged production with plenty of snap, sizzle and pop, "Five Guys Named Moe" is an uplifting, joyous musical entertainment that delivers and delivers and delivers. It's the perfect musical entertainment to chase away the blues, put a smile on your face and keep you clapping madly, always wanting more.
It's fun. It's smooth. It's sassy It's cool.
It's also backed by an engaged, tremendously talented cast, an excited six-piece band and a catalogue of trademark jump and jive rhythm and blues songs that are simply impossible to resist. And who doesn't need just that - right now in their lives.
Photos of "Five Guys Named Moe" by Meredith Longo
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