[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! written and produced by Ben Decter and Kristin Hanggi, and directed by Kristin Hanggi.
It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! has been a long time coming. First conceived over a decade ago by Ben Decter, the show is the story of his own very personal journey through his family’s battle with his daughter’s very rare seizures. This might seem like a strange concept for a musical. But trust me, everything about this musical is utterly magical, beautifully crafted, and an absolutely perfect way to share such an incredible story.
We meet the family when the kids, Lucy and younger brother Jackson, are finally in the same school and interacting for the first time together with peers, with good and bad results. On one particularly awkward day, another student, the Tyler Price of the title, makes fun of Lucy for being her own perfectly unusual self and Jackson, already stressed out by having his sister in his school, loses his temper and punches him…not good. This sets in motion the entire series of events that the show is built around, and of course, Jackson’s journey of discovery and understanding also becomes our own.
In order to not get expelled for the rather impressive right hook, he must present his apology to a school committee and throw himself at their mercy. But he’s a kid and the last thing he wants is to write some sappy essay. Looking for some inspiration in his father’s desk, he comes across his father’s long discarded musical. It was written when they were all truly struggling with Lucy’s diagnosis and uncertain of their collective future. So Jackson, a budding musician himself decides to beg his music teacher for help, enlist a few other teachers to play various roles, and produce the musical for the entire school. His plan is to dazzle everyone into accepting Lucy, ensure his place is secure, and show his parents that he’s so brilliant to be ignored…he’s been feeling a bit neglected since Lucy gets a lot of attention. Both his parents work constantly, Lucy’s drugs and doctors cost an absolute fortune. Sticking with him through all of this and helping him at every turn is his long-suffering best friend, Coco, and she’s on her own journey too.
I was completely blown away by this show. I was lucky enough to sit next to a friend of the family, a lovely gentleman who was kind enough to give me a little of the background on them all, which did give me some additional insight into the story. But, to be honest, everything is on the stage. The parents’ complicated yet loving relationship, their lives stressed and their connection heartfelt. The kids’ roles are incredibly and truthfully written. Their sweetness and their brattiness laid out in equal measure, which makes them interesting and compelling and utterly real. In fact, every character in this Broadway-bound rock musical is profoundly good. I believed everything they said and everything they did and they all served the story over and over again.
It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! is a musical masterclass and every detail is perfect. The set…oh my goodness, just incredibly good, seamlessly moving us from home to classroom to playground and all somehow without really changing a thing.
The team behind this musical is very impressive and with decades of musical and producing experience between them, Ben Decter and Kristin Hanggi are about as good as it gets when it comes to writing music and creating magical experiences like this show, both with Emmy Awards and Tony Award nominations. They have been working together on it, perfecting it, and honing it for years and years. But it must have been worth all the blood sweat and tears because they have made something truly original, powerful and inspiring.
But the performances are what took this extraordinary material to the next level. Where on earth did they find these wonderfully talented and deeply moving kids?? And the parents are perfect and the teachers are all so funny, insightful and compassionately performed. Truly everyone is fantastic and they seem to be having the most incredible time with every minute of the show. The phenomenal live band cunningly hidden away in the set didn’t seem to take a breath for the entire couple of hours of this show. I’m not sure how many songs there are but it has to be 20 or more. It’s a big, big show, but unlike some shows that, let’s face it, really should be shorter, I would have been happy if this musical went on all night! That’s how good this fantastic show is.
It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! is an incandescent piece of theatre written directly from the heart about one man’s most precious possession…his kids. The songs are wonderful and the performances gorgeous. Director Kristin Hanggi made every minute of this production entertaining, moving, emotional and true. Each scene as good as the last, each song as epic and brilliant. I cannot recommend this musical enough. I have already told everyone I know they have to see it, and quite a few people I don’t know at al!!
It’s a wonderful show to take your kids to or your friends for that matter. It’s a great holiday outing in fact and it plays through December 15, so you have a few weeks. But we all know where the time goes, especially at this time of year, so don’t dawdle and get your tickets now!!
I predict that It’s All Your Fault, Tyler Price! will play Broadway or The West End and it would make an incredible movie! I just can’t tell you how wonderful this show is!!! Please, please go and see it!!! Bravo!!!
IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT, TYLER PRICE! aims to de-stigmatize epilepsy and remind us all that everyone deserves to be seen. 1 in every 26 people have epilepsy, but this condition is rarely discussed and many people remain frightened and lack understanding of this common disability. This is a wonderful way to educate and remove a little of the fear surrounding epilepsy. Ben Decter and his wife own and operate The Children’s Ranch, which offers therapeutic programs that teach kids, teens, and young adults of all abilities to take care of animals and connect with others. https://thechildrensranch.org/
Tickets:
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=7150
Where:
The Hudson Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
When:
Through December 15
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
The Cast
CJ Eldred as Daniel. Jenna Pastuszek as Emma. Faith Graham as Lucy. Charlie Stover as Jackson. Erin Choi as Coco. Enrique Dueñas as Mr. Torres. Dahlya Glick as Ms. Friss. Desi Dennis-Dylan as Mrs. McKackney. Jonah Orona as Tyler Price. Understudies: Lee James, Anabelle Skye Greene and Jude Schwartz.
Production Team:
David Goldstein – Scenic Design, Jessica Champagne-Hansen – Costume Design, Jamie Roderick – Lighting Design, Robert Ramirez – Sound Design, Hope Matthews – Production Stage Manager, Nico Parducho – Assistant Stage Manager, Max Oken – Technical Director/Prop Master, Kyle DeTarnowsky – Associate Musical Director, Kyle Puccia – Musical Director, Maxx Reed – Choreographer, Zachary Spiegel – Casting.