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The Mayor Who Would Be Sondheim

nytheatre.com review by Michael Criscuolo
August 15, 2005

First things first: John Doble’s The Mayor Who Would Be Sondheim is not a musical. Yes, the title character breaks into song from time to time—usually his own lyrics set to a famous melody—but that’s where the musical part ends. This Mayor is more concerned with the hard choices that come with public office.The Mayor of Northeast Orange, New Jersey, Kevin J. McFadden, is beset with a host of problems: a sanitation strike, looming city bankruptcy, and a re-election campaign that promises to get ugly. Armed with both a foul-mouthed (and possibly racist) District Attorney and a loyal Girl Friday, McFadden hires the idealistic William “Kid” Kidowsky to help advise him through the tough times ahead.Playwright Doble has written a thoughtful political treatise about the options (and limitations) of a city on the brink of financial ruin. He wisely makes McFadden an honest politician to emphasize the point that no one in the political arena can escape back-room maneuvering. And he makes Kidowsky’s political education (i.e., youthful idealism is replaced by hard-won pragmatism) miraculously not feel like a cliche.But, Doble’s decision to make McFadden a musical theatre fan is unnecessary. McFadden’s spontaneous outbursts of song are distracting because they feel like they’re part of a different play. And, they make an otherwise sane and likable character look completely nuts. But, they don’t take up much of the script, and could be easily excised with a swift, deft rewrite—something Doble might want to consider in the future to keep his otherwise engaging play on track.Director Tom Rowan has assembled a strong cast of six—Nina Daniels, Scott Giguere, Craig Anthony Grant, Larry Greenbush, Mitch Poulos, and Stu Richel—who all turn in good performances. They help The Mayor Who Would Be Sondheim realize its potential as a strong political drama.