Brooklynite

Review by Tulis McCall
3 March 2015

Brooklynite, now playing at the Vineyard Theater is, well, adorable. I don't think I have ever used that word when describing a show before. Brooklynite is exactly what it intends to be: the story of six caped crusaders and two star crossed lovers who want to save the world. Or five caped crusaders. Or four crusaders and one meanie.

Ten years ago, According to the Mayoe (not the borough president) of Brooklyn (Tom Alan Robins) an asteroid slammed down and transformed ordinary humans into the Legion of Victory: 1) a short order cook from Bay Ridge was transformed into the master of fire - El Fuego (Andrew Call); 2) a marine biologist at the Brighton Beach Aquarium... the sassy siren of the seas - Blue Nixie (Grace McLean); 3) a messenger from DUMBO... was transmutated into the fastest man alive! - Kid Comet (Gerard Canonico); 4) Captain Clear toiled as a faceless file clerk in the city archives before turning completely invisible (Insert invisible actor's name here); 5) The asteroid gave an unemployed gamer from Bensonhurst a seriously enviable talent (finding empty parking spots) - Avenging Angelo (Nick Cordero - the highlight of Bullets Over Broadway); 6) An honor student from Prospect Heights Middle School .... Brooklyn's most powerful superhero - Astrolass (Nicolette Robinson).

AND then there is Trey. Trey runs his dead parents hardware store - based on the real Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. His neighbors buy his goods even if they don't need them just to keep him in business. On the side he is a slightly mad scientist working on creating a formula for the Gowanus Effect that will provide Super Power to those who need it.

While Trey is seeking Super-Hero-Dome - Astrolass is seeking anonymity. She has been the leader of the Legion for ten years and is longing for comfortable clothes and a quiet life. She makes the bold move of quitting the Legion, and this causes havoc among the troops. When Angelo is not selected as the new leader he turns rogue, and the game is on. Meanwhile Astrolass has changed to Astrid Smith Jones and taken a job as an assistant associate at the Save The World Foundatioin where she discovers Trey's application for a grant to make his Gowanus formula "Brooklynite". She sees her replacement. He sees his dream coming true.

Brooklyn, meanwhile, goes to the dogs. The Legioin is malfunctioning left anad right. Once Trey completes the Brooklynite, Angelo steals his paperwork. The scheduled time of transformation is 6:17 and the countdown begins.

There is a lot of musical singing, dancing and sturm and drang - but *WHEW* everything turns out okay. These are terrific performers who never drop the ball. Watching them is a complete pleasure. The ensemble of 7 makes you believe there are 70 onstage. And the Musicians kick some serious butt under the leadership of conductor Kimberly Grigsby.

Grab a little child wonder-dust and get on over to see this gem.

(Tulis McCall)

"A slight but goofily endearing new musical."
Charles Isherwood for New York Times

"It makes for the musical-theater equivalent of locavore dining — and that's fun. Ditto the energetic cast. If only the show exerted a superpowerful magnetic field."
Joe Dziemianowicz for New York Daily News

"This goofy superhero tale has a rambunctious, puppylike energy that makes it hard to dislike."
Elisabeth Vincentelli for New York Post

"Like the borough itself, 'Brooklynite' is big, boisterous and brash. But even with all that talent, it could still use more theatrical fire-power to be truly super."
Roma Torre for NY1

"Dopey, unfunny and has a tie-in to a retail store."
Robert Feldberg for The Record

"Despite the hard-working efforts of all concerned, Brooklynite never takes flight."
Frank Scheck for Hollywood Reporter

"It really doesn't matter what contortions Cordero has to go through to keep this show alive. But it's worth noting that the raucous belly laughs he earns are based in honest lowbrow farce and have nothing to do with the arch tone of this smugly self-congratulatory show."
Marilyn Stasio for Variety

External links to full reviews from popular press...

New York Times - New York Daily News - New York Post - NY1 - The Record - Hollywood Reporter - Variety