Renee Cohen and cast (Photo by James Esposito)
Reviewed by Catherine Crouch
Chromolume Theatre
Through July 26
Suzanne Saunders and Danielle Johnson (Photo by James Esposito)
Directed by Brayden Hade, If/Then follows Elizabeth (Renee Cohen), a 38 year-old urban planning academic who moves back to New York City after the disillusion of her 12-year marriage. Ready for change, Elizabeth meets her old friend Lucas (Judd Yort) and new neighbor Kate (Danielle Johnson) in a park and is immediately presented with a choice: should she, using the name “Beth,” go with Lucas to a community protest or should she, using the name “Liz,” join Kate to grab coffee and listen to a local band?
Brian Yorky and Tom Kitt’s 2013 musical unfolds both storylines — “Beth” attends the protest and reconnects with a graduate school friend, Steven (Keenan Carver), who offers her another fresh start by way of a shiny new job in New York’s Department of City Planning. Meanwhile, “Liz” meets Josh (Jon Armijo), an army surgeon, on the train to the concert and is encouraged by friends to take the charmer’s number and allow him to take her to dinner.
As time passes, we see “Beth” flex her corporate muscles and affect real change at the helm of the planning department. “Liz,” alternatively, falls hard for Josh and the two begin to plan the rest of their lives together.
Cohen’s performance fully meets the moment as Elizabeth. The story feels secure in her hands, and she delivers both vocally and dramatically. The whole cast capably avoids confusion between the two storylines: As the characters who know both “Beth” and “Liz,” the actors effectively differentiate their performances interacting with the respective versions of Elizabeth. Costuming helps as well — “Beth” is given white jackets and “Liz” is given red.
If/Then hasn’t been staged in Los Angeles for over a decade. Despite the talent pouring out of Chromolume Theatre, it is easy to see why. Yorkey (book and lyrics) and Kitt (music) reunited for If/Then after their Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning Next to Normal: On paper, this show should be a hit. However, the music isn’t gripping or memorable, and for being just a decade old, much of If/Then feels dated. Some of the humor doesn’t land, and despite the production’s efforts to position Elizabeth as a modern women who, across her storylines, has it all, the story is dominated by her new relationships with men.
Elizabeth is freshly divorced, and yet it’s hardly mentioned, leaving a lot of her underlying emotions unexplored. Liz’s narrative is almost purely centered around her relationship with Josh, and even Beth’s government girlboss successes are overshadowed by unnecessary romantic entanglings with Lucas and Steven. If/Then demands Elizabeth find a new somebody: This reviewer wonders how much more interesting the story might be if she were allowed discover passions outside of love.
Regardless of the choices we make, life infallibly comes with loss, doubt, and darkness. And, as If/Then posits, that doesn’t mean there won’t also be light. This makes for a satisfying viewing, despite the story’s flaws.
Note: It is sometimes difficult to hear the singers over the talented live band. Hard of hearing guests should sit near the front; or the balance between the instruments and the vocals should be adjusted, allowing audiences to better hear the lyrics.
Chromolume Theatre at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., W. Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 pm, Sun., 3 pm.; Sun., July 19, 7:30 pm. Through July 26. www.chrtheatre.com Running Time: 2 hours 50 minutes including a 15 minute intermission
