Tut

One of the first shows I saw as a theatre critic was Marcus Hummon's "Atlanta" at the Getty Playhouse in Los Angeles. I was a diehard country music fan, and this GrammyAward-winner had written many of my favorite songs. And as an avid lover of musical theater, how could the show not be just as good? At the time, "Atlanta" was one of the most reductionist generic musicals I had every seen. But, Hummon has outdone himself with "Tut."

"Tut" swiftly tells the story of the Egyptian King Tutankhaten through the eyes of archaeologist Howard Carter, who discovered his tomb in 1923. Carter (a puffed-up Sean Maclaughlin) narrates—he is the only character to both speak and sing—and his life parallels Tut's in this short 70-minute production. However, it's difficult to follow the course of the story, as the songs never fully establish each character. Tut's death comes in the middle of the show, and it's difficult to follow Hummon's intended plot trajectory. The second half consists of a weird exploration of Tut's afterlife though the living ancestors, with an obscure costume design by Abdel R. Salaam who also chaotically directs the piece.

Salaam's choreography is his strong suit—this guy wears a lot of hats—and the dancers are a definite highlight if only as an escape from the monotony of the rest of the show. Many of the dance numbers look similar, but Karama Butler, Johari Mayfield, Georgey Souchette, and Charmian Wells are pleasant to watch.  As General Horemheb, Kris Coleman's operatic voice brings some life to Hummon's generic score. N'Kenge as Tut's half-sister-turned-wife Ankhesenamun, sings the ballad, "It Is a Hunger," with pure emotion, but Moore's musical direction wields too much control over N'Kenge's execution.

Hummon relies on a particular song form and repeats it through out, and while repetitive lyrics might stroke the heart of a country lover, they do little to tell a cohesive story in the theater.

Presented by Reggie Hill as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the Theatre at St. Clements, 423 W. 46th St., NYC. Oct. 13–15. Remaining performances: Sat., Oct. 15, 1 and 5 p.m. (212) 352-3101 or www.nymf.org. Casting by Stephanie Klapper.