Trinity Rep’s Melancholy Play Beautifully Redefines the Modern Musical

The newest offering closing out the 51^st season at Trinity Rep is, in a word, beautiful. Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical is the latest world-premiere from award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl and talented composer Todd Almond. Almost completely sung-through, the play is not what one would typically think of when one hears the word “musical” — or even “melancholy” for that matter. The show defies an easy description and therein lies its wonderfully delightful appeal.

Featuring an impeccable piano quartet backed by excellent sound design from Broken Chord, the show opens in set designer Clint Ramos’ bare hotel ballroom, in the aftermath of what one has to assume was the saddest New Year’s Eve celebration ever held. Half-filled balloons and streamers hang from the walls as the five-person ensemble enter and begin with the “modest” proposal that melancholia will be defended and celebrated this evening.

At the center of the play is the lovely (and yes, magnetically melancholic) Tilly. Played by the luminous Rachael Warren, Tilly is a beige-suited bank teller whose overwhelming sadness has captured the hearts of those around her. The character is the antithesis of the popular “manic pixie dream girl” type (oh, think Zooey Deschanel — in any movie) that moves in a frenetic bubble of energy and challenges those around her to live and love unabashedly. While Tilly brings the same challenge to her circle of friends, in her case it is rooted in a deeper stillness, a beauty that comes from observing the truth and sadness of everyday routines.

Within this world of lyrical, magical realism, Warren finds a wonderful balance in the role of Tilly, tempering her character’s requisite sadness with a natural sense of humor that is endearing. She is full of introspection and nostalgia and questions, seemingly unable to filter or censor her thoughts as they come tumbling out of her lips.

She soon charms her work-mandated therapist (played by the hilariously over the top Joe Wilson, Jr.), enthralls an equally enigmatic physicist-turned-hairdresser Frances (the lively Rebecca Gibel), and even manages to turn the head of Frances’ live-in-girlfriend Joan (Mia Ellis). All of them drawn to the surprising beauty of Tilly’s overwhelming melancholy.

Now back to that tricky “melancholy” part.

When Tilly finds what seems like true love with her handsome tailor Frank (Charlie Thurston), things take a strange turn. Tilly undergoes a transformation into something – and someone – unrecognizable to her friends. She becomes happy. And she continues to be happy all the time. And this changes everything.

While much of the play is a love sonnet to the concept of sadness, it never gets mired in a depressive state. The cast is top-notch, filled with strong performances and equally strong singing voices. The score is gorgeous, filled with songs that bounce seamlessly between Broadway and alt-rock indie styles. And when Ruhl’s script takes some extravagant otherworldly twists and turns, the production still manages to stay grounded in its storytelling. I would credit that to the insightful and fast-paced direction of Obie-Award winner Liesl Tommy along with the delightfully quirky choreography of Christopher Windom.

Melancholy Play: a Chamber Musical is a show about transformations, both physical and emotional. From the opening song, the production will grab you by the hand and take you on a 90-minute ride filled with unexpected whimsy, soaring moments of beauty and much, much humor.

Melancholy Play: a Chamber Musical, by Sarah Ruhl and composer Todd Almond, directed by Liesl Tommy runs through Jun 28 at Trinity Rep. Call 401.351.4242 for tickets, or buy them online at trinityrep.com or at the box office at 201 Washington St, PVD.