Theater Review: Breaking Up is Hard to Do -- Ivoryton Playhouse

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R. Bruce Connelly, Leah Monzillo, Sheila Coyle, Christopher De Rosa, Scott Scaffidi, Melanie Souza. Photo: T. Rick Jones

Breaking Up is Hard to Do (and So is Coming Up with a Plausible 'Jukebox' Musical Book)
By Lauren Yarger
If you are a fan of the songs of Neil Sedaka, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, featuring 19tunes performed by an enthusiastic ensemble at Ivoryton Playhouse, then lovewill keep you together. The implausible book concocted to link the songstogether in Broadway-show fashion, however, might cause a little laughter inthe rain. 

Writing the “jukebox” musical has proved difficult inalmost every attempt. Mamma Mia,featuring the music of ABBA, The BuddyHolly Story (which had a recent run at Ivoryton), and Rock of Ages featuring 1980s rock music by various artists are justa few that have tried to find a way to come up with a story to present a bunchof popular tunes. Probably the most successful is Tony-winner Jersey Boys, which naturallyincorporates the songs as part of the group’s biography. No brainstorming isneeded to come up with why the boys suddenly start singing “Walk Like a Man”….
Here, book writers Erik Jackson and Ben H. Winters comeup with a basic plot and hope we are more interested in the songs than insubstance.  It’s 1960 and bombshell blondeditz Lois (Sheila Coyle) takes shy mousy dental student Marge (Leah Monzillo),who recently was left at the altar, to Esther’s Paradise Resort in the Catskillsto take her mind off her troubles and find new romance. Reluctant at first,Marge suddenly is interested when she catches sight of stud headliner DelDelmonaco (Christopher DeRosa) performing nightly with his backup group, theDel Tunes (Brett Bainer and Brandon Mauro). Besides the script, what needs somefine tuning here, unfortunately, are the harmonies. Throughout, whenever voicesblend for duets or group numbers, they sound at odds or off key. 
Lois implies that Marge’s father can get Del a recordingcontract, so he starts romancing the unsuspecting girl who is unaware that shealready has won the heart of Del’s shy and bumbling cousin, Gabe Green (ScottScaffidi). Meanwhile, Esther (Melanie Souza) also is unaware that long-timeemployee Harvey Feldman (R. Bruce Connelly) wants more from theirpunchline-filled relationship. Will Marge find true love? Will Esther andHarvey find deeper love? Will book writers ever write a believable jukeboxmusical book and did anyone besides me not realize Marge and Lois are related?I only discovered this after reading the program and seeing they share asurname.) 
If you take the show for what it is – a chance to hear alot of Neil Sedaka songs like “Lonely Night,” “Where the Boys Are,” “StupidCupid,” “Oh, Carol,” “Calendar Girl” and “Next Door to an Angel” -- you’llenjoy the two-hour-15-minute presentation. Under the direction of JacquelineHubbard, Monzillo and Coyle give perky performances and lend solid vocals andbelts to the tunes (under the musical direction of John Sebastian DeNicola whoconducts the five-member band up on stage. Tony Andrea designs the set.) Monzillogives a moving interpretation of “Solitaire” effectively lighted by designerMarcus Abbott. 
Green is engaging as the nerdy, beleaguered assistantrunning errands for celebrity Delmonaco while hiding his own feelings andtalents. Connelly and Souza try hard to milk their roles for humor and mostlysucceed. The production gets a boost to the top of the charts by theappropriately corny choreography by Caitlin Sailer, ’60s vintage clothes by CostumeDesigner LisaMarie Harry and beehive and teased hairdos designed by JoelSilvestro. Another highlight the day I attended was a sweet audienceparticipation moment  when a senior wasinvited up on stage to sway along with “Happy Birthday Sweet 16.”
Breaking Up is Hard to Do plays at the Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main, St., Ivoryton, through Oct. 14. Performances are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Evening performances Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm. Do to demand, a matinee has been added 2 pm on Saturday, Oct. 13. Tickets: $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children (860) 767-7318; www.ivorytonplayhouse.org. 

Note: Jacqui Hubbard sends the following note to clear up confusion about the relationship between Marge and Lois:
BTW - You are the only one who spotted a mistake in our Playbill. Administration, cast and crew all missed it! Marge’s name is Gelman, not Warner. If you look at the cast bios in the back it lists her as Gelman. They are just best friends, not relatives.