A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet has received mixed reviews from critics. The new musical opened September 27, following previews that began September 17, at the Off-Broadway DR2 Theatre. The story follows two writers as they try to create the jingle for a new perfume from pop star Regina Comet. The cast includes Alex Wyse (Other Man), Ben Fankhauser (Man 2), and Bryonha Marie Parham (Regina). The creative team includes Wyse and Fankhauser (book, score), Marshall Pailet (direction), Stephanie Klemons (choreography), Wilson Chin (sets), Sarita Fellows (costumes), Aja M. Jackson (lights), Twi McCallum (sound), and Alex Goldie Golden (music direction). The production runs through November 14. Below you can hear writer-performers Wyse and Fankhauser sing the show’s I Want number, “One Hit Song.”
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell): The premise … is nonsensical enough that it could have fueled a wacky spot-on parody of the music industry and the world of celebrity. … But the satire generally feels halfhearted. The creative duo seem more engaged in attempting to channel their Borscht Belt ancestors. … There’s not much of a plot in this 80-minute musical, and the less said about it the better. … And, by the glittery finale, we haven’t been given much more reason to care.
New York Times (Elisabeth Vincentelli): The focus of the story is not, as you might expect, Regina Comet, but rather the untried tunesmiths. … They desperately want to write “One Hit Song.” … The resulting song, “Say Hello,” sounds like a show-tune-ized single from Backstreet Boys or ’NSync. It is the most enjoyable number of the evening, yet it also reflects the production’s uncertain tone: Are we meant to laugh with the ingenuity of the Men or at their ineptness?
Theatrely (Kobi Kassal): This new comedy will bring you a smile to your face throughout it’s quick 80-minute runtime. … This kooky little show brings together the world of theater, composing, and aerospace dynamics?!? While the book can sometimes be bogged down with clichés and calculable plot lines, it is quite clear the team both off-stage and on is filled with passion for the project … a comical new work filled with heart and tunes that will be stuck in your head for days to come.
Theatre Mania (Zachary Stewart): There are about a hundred people trained to work in creative fields for every actual position … and there is real comic potential in that story. … Unfortunately, Fankhauser and Wyse don’t pursue this thread very far, delivering a too-easy resolution that we can see coming from lightyears away. … This isn’t the best new musical playing in New York, but you’re guaranteed to laugh at this irreverent send-up of the more cynical aspects of the entertainment industry.