My Very Own British Invasion--A Very American Mess

         By Joseph Cervelli,

The jukebox musical has hit a new low with the embarrassingly inept “My Very Own British Invasion” at the Paper Mill Playhouse. 

It is almost inconceivable that bookwriter Rick Elice who was co-writer for “Jersey Boys” has written such an abysmal show. While “The Cher Show” was not a masterpiece in writing, Elice did a far more convincing and interesting job with that one. 

The exhaustingly long two hours fifteen minutes chock full of about forty or so songs from the 60’s is great to listen to. But most are there just as a pastiche of the era and have little to do with the plotting and in those cases when it does it is almost laughable. 

The “My” in the title refers to singer Peter Noone from the famed group Herman’s Hermits. The musical is based on an idea by Noone. Not a really good idea and it is more than appropriate that the show is subtitled “A Musical Fable of Rock N’ Love.” “Gypsy” also called itself a “musical fable” but that had more authenticity for a major reason I will get to.  

The entire dead dull action takes place in an actual club (set by David Rockwell)  called  the Bag O’Nails in Soho, London, back in the 60’s. The first narrator and frequent singer Geno (a very good Kyle Taylor Parker) introduces us to the era by introducing to the Beatles as they appeared on the Ed Sullivan show played by four laughable actors who look or sound nothing like the original Fab Four. And remembering that monumental moment in television history Ringo played the drums as he always did. Not the guitar as done here. That is basically it for the group. You later see John (Brian Fenkart) in a brief moment but no further discussion of them. 

We then are introduced to our hero and second narrator Peter (Jonny Amies.) Amies is affable with a fine voice if a bit colorless in the lead role. But sadly he has little to work with and is put in some inane situations. I am still trying to forget the absurd scene in the car with the bartender/bouncer Hammer (Daniel Stewart Sherman). 

Peter is in love with the singer Pamela (a good Erika Olson) who is based on Marianne Faithful and she is in love with Trip (Conor Ryan) who himself is based on Mick Jagger. While Olson does resemble  Faithful, Ryan looks more like he belongs in a heavy metal band than one from the 60’s British onslaught of singers. Think Axl Rose not Jagger. While Ryan was excellent in the delightful “Desperate Measures” he is too cartoonish here. 

A rather awkward John Sanders portrays both the Beatles manager Brian Epstein for a brief moment and then Fallon who manages the bad boy Trip. Fallon is full of acronyms that are more fatuous than funny. Ok, first time amusing. Third or fourth enough.  To get Pamela away from Peter since she is beginning to have romantic feelings for the young man Fallon sends her to America. Of course, our hero rushes off to America to find his love. From coast to coast he tries to locate her. You might see him singing alone or with his band. Wouldn’t it have been easier for Peter to just have placed a call to someone in London and find out where she is.  Well, he does find her in New Orleans where she is strung out on drugs and alcohol.   As she is climbing the iron railings steps Geno breaks into the Animal’s “House of the Rising Sun.” Yes, that song takes place in the Crescent City, but very little in the lyrics have anything to do with that particular scene. But who cares? Get in as many numbers from The Hermits,  Steppenwolf, The Zombies, Dusty Springfield, Dave Clark Five, etc. as you possibly can. 

To the rescue he brings her back to London where she meets his mother a grating Jen Perry. Pamela plays the she  loves him she loves him not role because how can you resist Trip who literally drags her up (yep, those same steps only now back home) to his unseen bedroom. But wait! Suddenly, for no reason whatsoever--what was Elice thinking?--a symbol of a cross appears as do stained glass windows.  They are in church. Has the odious Trip repented? Has Pamela sworn off drugs? Does anyone really care for this insipid scene is thrown in for no specific reason as are  others. 

While Gregg Barnes costumes are on target and colorful, Jerry Mitchell’s direction becomes as monotonous as his repetitive and perfunctory choreography. 

Now, the fable aspect of this show. According to the notes in the press packet,  Noone states there was no “love triangle between the three” because he was sixteen years old at the time. So, guess this was all wishful thinking on his part because as he writes “I just wanted her.” 

Several songs were cut from the show including “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Perhaps, they thought best for it might have gotten some people thinking that was a good idea indeed.  

Tickets are available at the Paper Mill Playhouse 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, N.J. or by calling 212.376.4343.

PHOTOS: JERRY DALIA