"A Turtle on A Fence Post"

The stories title comes from one of Bill Clinton's favorite expressions: "when you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it didn't get there by itself. It doesn't belong there. You wonder who put it there". The show is inspired by fictionalized events of Hank Morris, a democratic strategist for people like: Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein; his time in prison at the hands of former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Directed by Gabriel Barre, "Turtle" at Theater 555 is a fun, easy going musical with great setting and costumes. Walt Spangler's set is mostly a comedy club (Heckler's) and the prison in which Morris spent two years trying to get paroled. The stories plot has him getting railroaded by Cuomo; the music and comedy is much deeper, however. Lily Dwoskin's lyrics for the most part are very good as is Austin Nucklos music. Songs like "This is a Play About Prison", "The Walls are Closing In", "Look at the Stars", "Leave it All Behind" and the end of the first acts: "I'm Out" are winners. The opening of the second act "There's Always a Second Act" was very campy and in fact, unnecessary in the first place; but the show picked up soon after with the help of fantastic lighting by Yael Lubetzky... his glam lighting and semi industrial lighting at times of intensity added to the the entrenchment of this musical. The second act really digs in with "Jewish Guilt", here Hank laments about how much he loves his mother and how wise she was in her teachings. "How Can I help You" is warm and deep, we see ones person love that is almost hopeless. Although the musical is about twenty minutes too long and some of the jokes fall flat, very flat, most of the performers were excellent. Garth Kravits and Kate Loprest were stand outs. Loprest in particular sang, danced and acted her way into the audiences hearts. Z(David Aron Damane showed too that he can flat out sing as well as act. The interaction between Z and Hank was one of respect and admiration. Even though Z was a drug runner, Hank respected his brain; Z was a great chess player, a painter and had worldly as well as street wise as to how the world works. The banter between Hank and Z when they both describe how their worlds are the most persecuted... Hank being rich and white; Z being black and judged was spot on in both delivery and how their acting drove these points home.

Hank Morris who wrote this story about his life brings out early how he was driven to succeed; both a lawyer and a businessman, Morris took every advantage that he had in his grasp. Was he a victim because he simply said no to Cuomo? It will never be clear what the real story is behind him taking a guilty plea, but one thing is for certain, Cuomo managed to irritate even people in his own party. The musical doesn't dive to deeply into the Cuomo/ Morris dispute and here that is a good thing. The show is better served focusing on the interactions of husband and wife, son and mother as well as the corky prison people that Hank interacts with during this period of his life.

For people not interested in politics, this may not be your cup of tea. The show, however does focus for a short time on people who got caught up in a period of turmoil.