Chris Heide
As we are coming out of the acute phases of the pandemic, theatre is making a great revival in Seattle, empathizing the importance or art in the healing of our communities. With its 25th brand new production, the 5th Avenue Theatre successfully reignites the passional and creative spark that fuels locally produced, Broadway quality theatre.
Afterwords is a very strong musical. It tells the story of two separate deaths, and how, through a series of flashbacks, those deaths share a common, fait accompli progression. These interwoven stories provide many unexpected reveals, plot twists, and moments of dramatic tension. It’s a stunning exploration of grief and loss that is sure to resonate with audience members.
In terms of musicality, this is a well-orchestrated book. There are multiple Broadway influences in this musical production, with song stylings ranging from pure pop, to bombastic ballads, to sexually charged duets ala Rent. This is not the typical music which bombards its audience with sleepy ballad after sleepy ballad. It’s a pulsing, pure and progressive show that is accessibility to a diverse array of audience members.
In addition to the extremely dominant and impressive vocal agility of all performers, the silent dancers that haunting existed throughout every number were intriguing. It was almost as if these dancers mimicked the emotion behind each song- a external manifestation of each performer’s souls. This adds a rich layer of artistic genius, not usually seen in straight-forward musicals where all emotional development is verbal.
While it is not a perfect musical, I believe the Afterwords will stand the test of time and become one of the defining musicals of this decade.
About Afterwords from the official press release: