Now Comes the Fun Part

A diverting musical revue with a series of songs and sketches about the charms and exasperations of growing older and facing new and often unexpected crises.

Posted on September 2, 2024 by Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief in Musicals, Off-Broadway

Aisha de Haas, Eddie Korbich, Rebecca Eichenberger and George Dvorsky in a scene from The York Theatre Company’s production of the new musical “Now Comes the Fun Part” at Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

In our culture which is youth oriented (note: our films in particular), older folk usually get short shrift. Now Comes The Fun Part: The “How the f*#k did I get this old?” musical, the opening presentation in The York Theatre Company’s New2NY Fall 2024 Series, wants to right that wrong with a musical revue about people on the senior side of “the Big Five-O.” Presented in Mufti-style with book in hand, the talented cast made up of well-known names Aisha de Haas, George Dvorksy, Rebecca Eichenberger and Eddie Korbich work their way through a series of songs and sketches about the charms and exasperations of growing older and facing new and often unexpected crises.

The revue alternates between skits by James Hindman and Lynne Halliday and songs with music by Jeffrey Lodin (who is also the music director at the piano) and lyrics by Mark Waldrop, the intrepid director. While the material is diverting and entertaining, it feels derivative rather than original. There appears to have been an attempt to not offend anyone so that everything is rather low key and tame. Some of the tropes though pertinent have already been dramatized: “To You, My Friend,” sung by two women at a college reunion, resembles but feels like a pale imitation of Jerry Herman’s “Bosom Buddies” while “Gonna Get the Band Together” suggests the 2018 Broadway musical with a similar name. “Reunion” in which two old friends reminisce has too much the feel of a Saturday Night Live skit.

Aisha de Haas and Rebecca Eichenberger in a scene from The York Theatre Company’s production of the new musical “Now Comes the Fun Part” at Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The show exhaustingly covers the topic with skits and songs about empty nesters, memory problems, medical procedures, reentering the dating scene, downsizing and moving to smaller premises, charms and regrets of retirement, old grudges, unappreciated surprises instore, feeling older, picking up new hobbies like pickle ball, bucket lists and new things to try. Among the best numbers are de Haas’ “They Were Right” in which all those warnings from parents and grandparents turn out to be true with its clever lyrics and Korbich’s “Things I Will Not Miss,” a catchy Cole Porter-esque song about the pleasures of retiring.

De Haas’ “Mr. Wallpaper” about how her retired husband who hangs around the house all day now and is now “driving me up the wall” has a nice Sondheim vibe to it. Eichenberger has a delightful patter song “Spinning Plates” in which she describes being caretaker to her mother, her father, her daughter and even her boss. Dvorsky has a poignant song with “What I Did” (“Inside I’m still that kid.”) Possibly the wittiest piece of material is “K-tel songs of the 70’s and 80’s” in which the foursome sing snatches of famous songs with new words describing being a senior citizen.

George Dvorsky and Rebecca Eichenberger in a scene from The York Theatre Company’s production of the new musical “Now Comes the Fun Part” at Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The cast is always upbeat and animated. A running gag (“You Know that Guy”) is de Haas’ attempt to recall the name of a favorite actor that is just on the tip of her tongue but takes her the whole show to remember who he is. Julie Duro’s lighting changes color with the mood and Peter Brucker’s projection design occasionally offers slides that illustrate the skits. The uncredited costumes put each actor in a different color and then add accessories like sweaters or vests for additional looks.

Now Comes the Fun Part plays well to its target audience. While it won’t tell you anything you don’t already know, it is a pleasant enough evening in the theater. Except for a few pointed references, it is a show appropriate for all ages – those in the midst of seniorhood and those who have yet to experience it. It doesn’t offer any free advice about how to approach one’s golden years but it neatly delineates the time of retirement, children moving out and medical events that come along. The NEW2NY musical series continues with Twist of Fate (September 7-15), Monte Cristo (September 21-29), and InunDATEd (October 4 – 13)

Now Comes the Fun Part (August 28 – September 1, 2024)

The York Theatre Company

New2NY: Fall 2024 Series

Theatre at St. Jean’s, 150 E. 76^th Street, in Manhattan

For tickets, call 212-935-5820 or visit http://www.YorkTheatre.org

Running time: 95 minutes without an intermission

About Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief (1016 Articles)

Victor Gluck was a drama critic and arts journalist with Back Stage from 1980 – 2006. He started reviewing for TheaterScene.net in 2006, where he was also Associate Editor from 2011-2013, and has been Editor-in-Chief since 2014. He is a voting member of The Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle, the American Theatre Critics Association, and the Dramatists Guild of America. His plays have been performed at the Quaigh Theatre, Ryan Repertory Company, St. Clements Church, Nuyorican Poets Café and The Gene Frankel Playwrights/Directors Lab.