Fly By Night @ Playwrights Horizons/The MainStage Theater

 Fly By Night is an off-beat bittersweet love story set against the backdrop of the 1965 blackout on the east coast. Filled with original music and well scripted dialogue, this musical is a refreshing piece that leaves the audience hungry for romance and surprisingly hopeful in the face of reality.

Conceived by Kim Rosenstock(Tigers Be Still) and written by Will Connolly (performer, Once), Michael Mitnick (Sex Lives of Our Parents, the upcoming film The Giver) and Ms. Rosenstock, Fly By Night explores the life of melancholy sandwich maker, Harold(Chanler-Berat), after his path crosses with two equally enchanting, but different sisters, Miriam(Case) and Daphne(Murin).

The cast features Allison Case(Mamma Mia!), Adam Chanler-Berat(Next to Normal, Peter and the Starcatcher), Tony Award nominee and Obie Award winner Peter Friedman, Michael McCormick(Chaplin), Patti Murin(Lysistrata Jones), Drama Desk Award nominee Bryce Ryness(First Date) and Obie Award winner Henry Stram(Titanic, The Crucible).

This show was filled with a great deal of talent. Stram's classical training shows as he morphed into several different genders, ages, and ethnicities. Each of his characters were different from the other and despite him not changing costume at any point during the show, his switches were seamless and complete. Murin and Case were exquisite as the sisters. Chanler-Berat brought his quirky charm to stage. Friedman was incredibly memorable as Harold's father, while Ryness' grumpiness added to the "hum drumness" of Harold's life as the sandwich maker's boss. 

Directed by Carolyn Cantor (The Great God Pan and After the Revolution at PH; Arlington, Pumpgirl) and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton (Mr. Burns at PH; Natasha, Pierre…). The production features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Tony Award winner Paloma Young, lighting design by Tony Award winner Jeff Croiter and sound design by Ken Travis and Alex Hawthorn.  The FLY BY NIGHT band is Foe Destroyer.  Musical Director is Vadim Feichtner.  Production Stage Manager is Kyle Gates.

Fly by Night officially opens at the Playwright's Horizons in their Mainstage Theatre on June 11 and runs until June 29th. Do yourself a favor and go see this beautiful show before it closes.  Get your tickets here! 

Review By: Aziza Seven
Photos By: Joan Marcus