Dwayne Washington is James and McKenna OGrodnik is Ellie in That Parenting Musical, at Theatre Row.
That Parenting Musical, written by real-life mom-and-dad team Graham and Kristina Fuller, is a show that whimsically explores the ups and downs of parenting. Breezily directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman, it is two hours of rib-tickling fun.
Max Crumm plays Child 1 and Natalie Bourgeois is the Single Friend in That Parenting Musical, directed by Jen Wineman.
With the Narrator (Brian Owen) serving as guide on this journey, one is invited to watch soon-to-be parents Ellie (McKenna OGrodnik) and James (Dwayne Washington) as they transition from being a couple to a family of three—and then four. From the moment Ellie makes the announcement to her spouse (“We’re pregnant!”), chaos begins. The births of nonbinary Child 1, named Sam (Max Crumm), and, a few beats later, female Child 2, named Dot (Vidushi Goyal), soon follow, with both kiddos being capably performed by adults.
The show has a contemporary vibe, is culturally inclusive, and nods to the many configurations of families today. In fact, the opening number, “Power Through,” sung by the Narrator and company, refers to all kinds of couples, including same-sex ones, who typically “birth” their children through surrogacy or adoption. But no matter how one’s infant arrives into this world, there’s no question that the final rhyming couplet of “Power Through” nails the truth about human procreation:
It may not seem dramatic or clever
But this simple act changes the world forever.
The Fullers have deftly attuned their multistyled score to each character’s personality. There’s the song “Bad Rap” early on that allows the whole family, in turn, to have their say, using urban patois and rap rhythms. Then there’s Child 2’s ballad midway through Act I called “The Second Child Blues,” which is sung with aching R & B soulfulness. “Toddler Travel Travesty” is intoned by Mom and Dad like a Gilbert and Sullivan patter song:
Brian Owen plays a vaudeville-style jokester, with backup singers. Photographs by Maria Baranova.
Cuz now we’re jesters at the
Beck and call of Little Majesties
Vacations have become a
Tricky toddler travel travesty.
Wineman has directed and choreographed That Parenting Musical in an appropriately zany style and with an excellent cast. The standout performances come from OGrodnik as the shrewd Mom, Dwayne Washington as her supportive and loving second fiddle, and Brian Owen, who capably tackles six roles: Narrator, Doctor, Dad Joker, Teacher, Douchebag, and Gate Agent.
The creative team shines. The show benefits from Tim Mackabee’s schematic set design: Its dominant prop is the framework of a house, replete with three neon-lit gables (lighting by Alan C. Edwards). The back wall is surreally embellished with crayon-like drawings that looks like they are on loan from a local kindergarten. At the house’s floor level, there are cubbyholes filled with a blizzard of toys and stuffed animals. While the set is in synch with the parenting theme, Mackabee manages to intensify its effectiveness by placing it on a shallow stage, forcing all the action downstage for a more intimate theatrical experience.
Tina McCartney’s costumes serve as a clever comment on the family’s no-fuss lifestyle. In fact, the song “Yoga Pants,” sung by the company, is all about simplicity over sophistication.
Max Crumm as nonbinary Child 1, named Sam, looks forward to his bottle.
The earnest parenting efforts of Mom and Dad are counterpointed by the sad discovery of single friend Becca (Natalie Bourgeois) that she no longer has a gal pal to join her for “Mimosa Monday.” Or, as she dejectedly croons in the Act I song, “The Babysitter Shuffle:”
Our fun on Mondays seems so long ago
Before you had some kids
And things went astray.
Ironically, Becca will do a 180-degree turn once she finds a new boyfriend Todd (Owen again) and things gradually heat up between them.
If romance is peppered in, comedy rules this musical. Take the scene in the bathroom when Mom is on the throne, responding to nature and catching a rare moment of privacy. Before exiting the bathroom and returning to her maternal duties, she flushes, and then mounts the toilet that conveniently has wheels, channeling the spirit of the Little Mermaid.
Although the musical doesn’t have a big enough trajectory for one to see Mom and Dad experience all the seasons of parenthood, it still gives the audience a genuine glimpse of a young couple going through the growing pains of raising youngsters. Graham and Kristina Fuller, who cocreated the book, lyrics, and score, have interwoven 24 high-energy songs into the narrative.
To call parenting difficult is like calling water wet. But, at this funny new musical, parents can take a break from the incessant demands of rearing their Lilliputians and watch how one young couple cope with pregnancy, childbirth, their toddlers’ first years of life, and beyond.
The production of That Parenting Musical has an open-ended run at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street). Evening performances are 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; matinees are at 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit TheatreRow.org.
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Graham and Kristina Fuller
Direction & Choreography: Jen Wineman
Music Direction: Dan Graeber
Scenic Design: Tim Mackabee
Costume Design: Tina McCartney
Lighting Design: Alan C. Edwards
Sound Design: Jessica Paz
