WINTER PARK — It’s 1967, and a plane is gearing up for an international flight. The passengers are impatiently waiting to board, while three flight attendants are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their coworker, the vital fourth stewardess, so they can get ready for the flight. But then they get word that she’s taking the day off, and suddenly the ladies need to find a replacement — and fast!
But the flight gets even more complicated before it hits the runway. Among the passengers is Jean-Christophe, a sophisticated French jewel thief who notices a fellow passenger with an impressive snazzy diamond ring on her finger. By the end of that flight, before you can say “Oui Oui, ce sera à moi,” Jean-Christophe plots to get that ring in his clutches.
One more thing: this being a 1967 flight, the crew happily reminds the passengers that yes, they can smoke to their heart’s delight!
Taking Off! was the opening production at the second day of the 8th Annual Florida Festival Of New Musicals, the four day event at Winter Park Playhouse, which created this festival to put a spotlight on new musicals still in development. A hefty cast of 10 talented singers gave Taking Off! its first professional reading before a live audience, as the boisterous musical brought out quite a few roars of laughter from the audience.
What is the Musical Taking Off?
Created by NYC-based playwright Sonya Hayden, who wrote the book and lyrics, and composer Matthew Lowy, the idea of a musical set on a long-distance continental flight certainly seemed an inspired one. For one thing, within the tight spaces of a jet plane, there’s plenty of opportunities for problems and mischief. And we get all of that and plenty more, as the newly recruited stewardess Amelia spills drinks, Jean-Christophe and his dimwitted sidekick Alphonse plot a jewel heist at 35,000 feet, Alphonse must woo the cynical but naughty-minded passenger Trudy as part of their scheme, and babies cry and passengers smoke. And you thought the movie Airplane was zany!
Taking Off! is an escapist musical delivering light fun, silliness, and good natured humor, perfect for an afternoon of, as the old theater saying goes, leaving your troubles behind. While we only got to see the first act of the show, compensations included the exceptional cast chosen by the Playhouse for this reading.
Laura Powalisz is delightfully comical as the wide-eyed but klutzy Amelia, and Russell Stephens had a grand time with his campy “zis and zat” fake Frenchie accent for the scheming Jean-Christophe. Kelly Wells as the vivacious older women Trudy eyeing the young studmuffin Alphone, played by Dragomir Page, are a riotous duo. They deliver one of the play’s most hilarious scenes involving the two of them, hand lotion, and the airplane’s bathroom. You heard that right.
Taking Off! will have one more flight – err, reading — on Saturday at 5 p.m., and this one is for audiences that enjoy a fine touch of French farce, airplane-style.
What is the Schedule For The Festival Of New Musicals?
Tickets are the readings are $10 each for the productions at The Winter Park Playhouse, 711 Orange Ave. in Winter Park. There is a 15-minute talk-back session at the end of each show, which typically runs for between 45 minutes to an hour.
The festival’s upcoming schedule is:
- Saturday, 11 a.m.: Ink And paint
- Saturday, 1 p.m.: Speakerheart
- Saturday, 3 p.m.: Spirit Of The Game
- Saturday, 5 p.m.: Taking Off!
- Saturday, 7 p.m.: Place To Stay
- Sunday, 11 a.m.: Finding Our Way back
- Sunday, 1 p.m.: Ink And Paint
- Sunday, 3 p.m.: Speakerheart
Tickets are all six shows are $50. To learn more, call the Playhouse at 407-645-0145.
What is the Festival Of New Musicals?
The Florida Florida Festival of New Musicals was first launched in 2017, created to advance and elevate the original American art form of musical theater by fostering the development of new musicals. The Playhouse, which frequently brings in brand new musicals making their Central Florida debut, also aims to boost the artistic growth of theater writers and composers.
This four-day event showcase six new musicals currently in the development stage. The Festival also enables the writers and composers to get exposure to not only the public, but the news media and to regional theater producers and directors.
A one-hour version of each chosen musical gets fully read and sung concert-style, without staging, by professional actors and musicians.
Each year, national and international writers and composers submit their musicals, which get reviewed by a professional panel that selects the six final productions to be featured in the festival.
Michael Freeman is an Orlando journalist, playwright and author of the terrifying book “Bloody Rabbit”. Contact him at Freelineorlando@gmail.com.
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