A comedy with a psychiatric twist, this new musical is a story about finding happiness, falling in love, and dealing with that little voice in your head along the way.
“A musical comedy that only half-fulfills the promise of its inventive concept...Purely as musical theater, though, ‘Neurosis’ does have its charms...Edwards's lyrics and Rice's book are filled with quick-witted jokes and wordplay, and Green's music abounds in buoyant energy...This conceptually intriguing but disappointingly skin-deep show proves too committed to its crowd-pleasing ways to be both diverting and profound.”
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"On the surface, it's a rather familiar story with a few oddball twists...A highlight of director Andy Sandberg's bubbly production, and especially Shea Sullivan's snazzy choreography, is how Zak and Caldwell interact with each other with the brisk physicality of a well-oiled vaudeville team...While 'Neurosis' is decidedly not the musical to see for a serious exploration of the human psyche, it's extremely enjoyable fluff, featuring a fun score, solid laughs and a terrific company."
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"In the summer doldrums, in what movie buffs call the silly season, it is a pleasure to come across a witty, clever new musical with a relatable theme. 'Neurosis,' with a smart book including an inventive twist by Rice, witty lyrics by Edwards, bouncy, catchy music by Green and snappy direction by Sandberg, is a vastly entertaining show about two losers in love, Abby (Jennifer Blood), a successful but workaholic marketing executive who has a penchant for inappropriate guys."
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“A light-hearted but unsurprisingly sitcom-like book, catchy music, and enjoyable but obvious lyrics that highlight every stereotype you can imagine...The setups and songs are playful, humorous, and almost witty enough to draw us in, with music director Aaron doing a great job enlarging the sound as he conducts and plays keyboards alongside three other talented musicians, but the lasting effect of ‘Neurosis’ is superficial, requiring a bit more treatment to become something more sustainable.”
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"Despite being essentially a conventional rom-com, with stereotypical characters, it survives…without a nervous breakdown. 'Neurosis' may not be as funny as it should be, but it's animated, polished, and more consistently diverting than many similar Off-Broadway novelties…Rice's book handles its subject with sensitivity and wit; Edwards's lyrics support the story with clever rhymes and insights; and Green's music…has a generic but consistently entertaining show biz aura that gets the job done."
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"Full of small pleasures. It’s the kind of show that doesn’t 'kill' but supplies grins and smiles generously...It’s a pleasant surprise, too, to find that lyricist Greg Edwards can write clean, intelligent rhymes, and Ben Green’s music is tuneful...Despite the use of tried-and-true plot devices, Rice’s book has many original moments beyond the idea of tag-along neuroses...Although the pleasures of 'Neurosis' are modest, they are solid, and elevated by the extraordinary talents of a hard-working cast."
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“The writing is never less than accessibly entertaining. Green’s music is tuneful and jaunty, while Edwards’ lyrics are bright and astute without being condescending...As for Rice’s good natured book, it’s tightly structured if a tad limited in scope. Even if ‘Neurosis’ doesn’t quite delve into the more complicated aspects and dark underbelly of the neurotic condition, I didn’t really mind...’Neurosis’ knows exactly what it wants to be, and it executes wonderfully on its promise."
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“Though the show has a sitcom feel and could use a dose of depth, it is breezy and entertaining with some delightful songs and lively staging that highlight both the excellent voices and comedic physicality of the hardworking cast...The winning cast makes the most of the lightweight material."
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