Of course, presidential assassins, cannibalism, and serial killing have worked well for Stephen Sondheim, but nevertheless — while it may sound philistine to say so — there still may be some subjects too dark and disturbing for musical theatre. And pedophilia may be one of them.
At least that's the impression left after seeing Love Jerry. The piece, whose book, music, and lyrics are all by Megan Gogerty, tells how the marriage of Mike and Kate is torn apart when it's discovered their eight-year-old son, Andy, is being sexually abused by Mike's loving but socially repressed brother, Jerry. The wrenching dilemma that faces Mike is how to reconcile the deep love he feels for his brother with the abuse done to his son.
There's nothing frivolous about this musical — or perhaps more accurately, play with music. Gogerty's script takes a thoughtful, sometimes clinically probing look at the problem. Indeed, as Jerry enters therapy, some of his descriptions of his seduction of Andy are uncomfortably explicit.
There are moving performances from Donna Lynne Champlin as the distraught and outraged Kate, JT Arbogast as the conflicted Mike, and Harris Doran as the tormented Jerry. Katrina Yaukey, Jonas Cohen, and Annalyse McCoy handle supporting roles nicely while also doubling as musicians. The show is fluidly staged by director Hilary Adams.
Gogerty's songs in themselves are sometimes beguiling as they comment on the action with a folklike strain and expressive lyrics. They include some deftly crafted duets and trios. But Love Jerry may have worked more effectively as a straight play, without the expectations of visceral pleasure or excitement a musical engenders. The subject matter carries such discomfiting weight that the songs often seem extraneous or intrusive — or worse yet, an ill-advised attempt to dress up a topic whose grimness demands the shunning of any embroidery.
Presented by JT Arbogast and Works Productions as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the Barrow Group Theatre, 312 W. 36th St., NYC. Sept. 19-27. Remaining performances: Sat., Sept. 20, 4:30 p.m.; Sun., Sep. 21, 8 p.m.; Thu., Sept. 25, 8 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 27, 8 p.m. (212) 352-3101 or (866) 811-4111 or www.theatermania.com or www.nymf.org. Casting by Michael Cassara.