In Transit: Music in Motion

Fun Facts: In Transit had a successful run Off-Broadway and transferred last year to Broadway theatre Circle in the Square. Not a single instrument is used in this a cappella production!

Target Audience: I always love to look around the auditorium and see the response from the various ages present, in this case both the adults and children were smiling ear-to-ear as this quirky bunch transports you on the highs and lows of life.

Best Bit: Moya Angela’s performance as Ms. Williams, Momma and Althea was thrilling throughout. She had me filled with excitement and hanging off every note. She adds the grit and authenticity In Transit needs to accurately represent New York City. Angela is a fierce and brilliant actress, and we love her even more knowing she is an ambassador for Broadway in the Hood, a program which uplifts through theatre!

Morning After Effect: As I opened my eyes the lyrics “give up on your dreams!” sprung to mind and looped constantly for about twenty minutes, this made me laugh hysterically and feel more motivated than ever! I am seriously considering using this song as my alarm tone for its skillful reverse psychology effect!

Verdict: In Transit is bright, fun and rather silly, yet the message to appreciate being in the moment and not fixated on where you want to be is an important reminder no matter where you are in life.

Remember the song from Disney’s hit film Frozen? When Elsa’s secret powers are revealed and she bellows - “Let it go, let it go…” Yes, that’s the one. The song that got jammed in your head for days, perhaps even weeks, and reached every corner of the globe with celebrities such as Bradley Cooper, James Corden, and Ellen DeGeneres singing its praise, and singing out loud. Well, the woman behind that song - Kristen Anderson-Lopez - received an Oscar and Grammy Award for the multi platinum song and now finds herself in the grubby setting of New York City’s subway with equally captivating harmonies. Along with co-creators James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth, Anderson-Lopez has created In Transit - an a cappella musical that intertwines the lives of eleven diverse New Yorkers trying to get there' in the Big Apple.

One of the many frustrations for New Yorkers is the MTA subway system, notorious for delays, trash riddled platforms, rotten smelling train cars and crowded commutes, making it the perfect setting to highlight those wanting more. Unlike Elsa letting it go, each character is clutching onto their transition toward success, acceptance, perseverance and love as they constantly remind themselves they are not ‘there’ yet. As their journeys unravel we empathize with their inability to see the bigger picture of life, and laugh at the difficulties associated with living in this city... A city full of life and sounds, mirrored expertly by this agile a cappella ensemble.

Leading the way with his unbelievable vocal dexterity is international beatboxer Steven “HeaveN” Cantor. Cantor’s character Boxman, a subway busker seeking success, promotes his underground album as he mimics the sounds and beats of New York City, its frantic pulse and rare tranquility. Cantor creates remarkable sounds with lightning speed, and just as you think he has reached the impossible with his mouth, he adds a second microphone and places it on his throat! This is Cantor’s Broadway debut and he looks extremely comfortable on stage. He is confident and precise, and exudes a gentle kindness making him a joy to watch.

A large part of the plot centers around female protagonist Jane (Margo Seibert), a musical theatre major who has spent the last fifteen years searching for her lucky Broadway break while working a soul crushing temp job. Jane keeps her hopes high and validates her work as a means to an end as she sings “Do What I Do” with tenacity and innocence. Seibert’s genuine performance will have you on the sidelines cheering for her success and jaded dream to become a star. However, when her boss Ms. Williams (Moya Angela) appears as the convincing voice of reason she sings “A little Friendly Advice”, she strongly encourages Jane to give up! Jane has to make a decision whether she digs deeper and perseveres as an actress, or takes the full time employment package which offers medical coverage!

Angela presents an absolutely hilarious and theatrical delivery as she sings the lyrics “give up on your dreams, throw them away”, her performance will have you laughing out loud at the audacity of her frank approach, and leave you wondering when exactly this diva gave up on hers? This particular song is sure to stay in your head for days! I can’t help but grin every time it does a loop through my mind as it is not just the lyrics re-lived but Angela’s energized performance.

Angela’s comedic talent surpasses Ms. Williams in this production as she plays the stroppy, disenchanted MTA officer Althea, and the evangelistic and widowed Momma from Texas. Angela keeps the laughs rolling with both these characters, yet it is Momma who reveals her ability to play the softer, more dramatic emotions. The relationship between Momma and her gay son Trent remind us that for many leaving New York and going back home can feel like going back in time. Momma and Trent remind us there are still many people fighting the transition of acceptance, a prevalent notion across America, and the world.

Do not fear, there is nothing political or heavy about this show, just sprinkles of thought-provoking songs that allow you to snicker at the current state of affairs. The super cheesy choreography, foot tapping tunes and dorky band camp gang are there to remind you that life is one heck of a ride, and you better get onboard.

Donyale Werle has done such an outstanding job creating this underground world verbatim that my trips on the train will certainly be celebrated as a new backdrop for the many stories passing through, as I transit along singing Jane’s mantra “Do What I Do”.

Reviewed by Nicola Quinn

21st January 2017
Circle In The Square, New York City
Find me on Twitter: @newyorktheatre

View our show pages for more information about In Transit, Circle in the Square Theatre.