Anyone who grew up in the 80s will remember ‘Jack & Diane,’ the chart-topping single from American Fool. The little ditty is now a big John Mellencamp musical, Small Town, making its world premiere at Ogunquit Playhouse.
The musical is in its final week, capping another breakout season at “America’s foremost summer theatre.” The self-proclaimed accolade mostly holds up, if not by this particular production, then by a constant stream of A-list Broadway talent. This season alone featured Beth Leavel (Hello, Dolly!), Tony Yazbeck (City of Angels) and Sutton Foster headlining its annual gala—all eager to escape the city heat for a stint in a picturesque coastal town.
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A heartland on the verge of cardiac arrest
Ogunquit is a far cry from the world book writer Naomi Wallace creates, painting a picture of America’s heartland on the verge of cardiac arrest. Most of the town’s residents work for factory owner Sean (a swaggering Ron Bohmer), who manufactures a toxic industrial adhesive that—no surprise—is contaminating the local water supply.
If you question the main plot point’s plausibility as the town’s residents cough blood or clutch their sides in pain, look no further than Parkersburg, West Virginia, where DuPont and The Chemours Company dumped chemicals for decades. Then again, in Act II, when Jack (Dillon Klena) goes for a dip and emerges covered in what looks like black tar, the premise strains. So does the knee injury that threatens his football scholarship, at least until he’s dancing around with girlfriend Diane (Morgan Higgins).
Packed with 23 songs, including additional music and lyrics by George Michael Green, Small Town tries mightily to harness the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy winner’s catchy songbook. Music supervisor Andy York and music director Jason Hart (both credited with orchestrations) bring Small Town to life. But Wallace’s book, trapped like the town’s residents in a cycle of exposition, pummels the plot instead of letting Mellencamp’s music do the work, as Conor McPherson’s more successful Girl From the North Country does with the music of Bob Dylan.
Even so, Small Town represents another bold move for Ogunquit Playhouse. The theater remains committed to developing new works amid a massive capital campaign that will make the historic theater more accessible, proving that even in a small town, big dreams can come true.
Is ‘Small Town’ worth seeing?
Mellencamp’s classics give Small Town a sturdy foundation, and once the story learns to lean on them, Ogunquit’s ambitious world premiere could have a long road ahead.
- Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main St., Ogunquit, Maine
- Notable performers: Dillon Klena, Morgan Higgins, Ron Bohmer, Annie Golden, Kathy Fitzgerald, Matt Saldívar, Luna Lauren Vélez
- Running time: 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one intermission
- Performances through November 1
Have another minute?
Join 1 Minute as we welcome award-winning theatermaker Cheeyang Ng for Solo Unplugged, an intimate conversation as part of The United Solo Theatre Festival.
We’ll be chatting about their sold-out Edinburgh Fringe show, Legendary, and why awards aren’t the whole story.
Saturday, November 7, 4 p.m.
Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street
