Review: Lyric & The Keys by Magik Theatre
by Michael Meigs
The title of Roxanne Schroeder-Arce's play Lyric & the Keys prompted expectations of group of second-grade musicians, something gentler than, say, the cohort around Jack Black in School of Rock but lengthier and more coherent than the cutely pedagogical television series Schoolhouse Rock.
Sweetly striving Lyric, played by Hannah Rodriguez, doesn't question the reading advice of Miss Reed, but Lyric is shy, embarrassed, and frustrated when invited to read a book on her own or to read aloud in front of her happy, wiggly classmates (Amy Bouquet, Sami Serrano, Cary Farrow IV, and Grace Lynn). At first we don't understand why. But as the stage turntable revolves and delivers Lyric and the audience to the narrow interior of the trailer where she lives with her mom Melody, we begin to perceive the complications.
Tory Ross is Lyric's mom, Melody, a single mother barely able to make ends meet. She has little time for Lyric and her baby sister and even less time for Lyric's schoolwork. Perhaps it's unjust, perhaps Melody is distracted; after all, her job pays by the hour and she has the feeling that her daughter should simply apply herself and do the work as assigned. Melody's not unkind. She kisses her older daughter and gives the baby a caress as she she departs to work and on errands. But Lyric, lonely and lacking in confidence, acts out her frustrations with her circle of worn fluffy toys.
The cheery school custodian Mr. Hartley played by Benjamin Bazán provides attention and reassurance. He's something of a big kid, himself, unfazed to hear that the schoolchildren make fun of his penchant of recouping and repurposing items from school trash. Mr. Hartley's a tinkerer who involuntarily reveals himself to Lyric as almost a magician. After all, imagination is magic; he happily engages in make believe with Lyric. To accompaniment by guitarist Rick Patino from stage right, they perform Jenn Hartmann Luck's bouncy duet "Everything Has Potential"—and it soon becomes evident that Mr. Hartley's custodian closet contains magic in the shape of an enchanting cat robot he can pop out from his janitor's cart.
The following number "Just Believe," performed by the custodian, Lyric, and ensemble member Amy Bouquet, offers a fundamental message.
What Lyric lacks is confidence. Her mom's annoyance at being called to a parent-teacher conference doesn't help; it leaves Miss Reed dismayed that the teacher's helpful intentions aren't warmly accepted.
Lyric isn't dyslexic, as we might have suspected. While slowly reciting the opening of The Velveteen Rabbit to Mr. Hartley, she hasn't any problem at all with evident encoding/pronouncing traps in English such as the words "once" or "our." When reading lyrics to Melody from a songbook inherited from grandparents Lyric can't remember, Hannah Rodriguez does drop a hesitation and insert a hard "g" and audible "t" into the word "daughter." But we oughtn't indulge in laughter at that rough passage.
The culmination of melody and lyrics comes as Lyric strums and Melody sings "Momma (What You Taught me)." The song is a deep lament for her own mother, who died when Melody was only fifteen, probably before Lyric was born. The symmetry is affecting and intergenerational, suggesting the deep significance of successive mother-daughter relationships.
Lyric & the Keys touches different levels of understanding within the audience. Adults may take lessons regarding poverty, single motherhood, insufficient attention to offspring, and missing father figures. Mr. Hartley isn't a father figure, by the way; rather, his function is to bolster Lyric and awaken her sense of wonder. Youngsters of an age similar to that of the protagonist may empathize with her self doubts or identify with classroom frolics. The youngest will be entertained by sprightly dances, Lyric's play acting with her furry friends, and the improbable but highly entertaining dance of puppets fabricated from common household objects. And everyone will enjoy CC the Robocat.
The Magik Theatre is eager to educate as well as to entertain. After taking their bows, actors respond to questions from young persons in the audience and then post themselves in the lobby. A well tended reception line moves impressed young audience members to them for conversations and photos. The theatre provides a thoughtful online guide to themes and activities associated with the story.
EXTRAS
Click HERE to view the Magik Theatre program for Lyric & the Keys.
Click HERE to view the resource guide for Lyric & the Keys.
Magik Theatre Video
Lyric & The Keys
by Roxanne Schroeder-Arce, Jenn Hartman-Luck
Magik Theatre
September 28 - October 13, 2024
September 28 - October 13, 2024
Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo, San Antonio
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES INCLUDE
American Sign Language Interpreted Performance
Sensory-Friendly Performance
Pay What You Wish Performance
Field Trip Performances
EDUCATOR APPRECIATION DAY
- Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 pm
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
- Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 pm
Tickets $23.50 and $28.50
