“A Second Chance,” at Signature Theatre, is a pretty, jazzy valentine to love, in which two individuals who have lost their life partners attempt to survive. It has the potential to be trite but is decidedly not, and it stars two sensational singers, Diane and Brian Sutherland. In terms of discovering a new romance after her divorce, the woman, Jenna, is slightly better off than the man, Dan. She’s at least optimistic. But Dan’s wife has died, and he fears he can’t feel emotion again.
With book, music and lyrics by Ted Shen, the musical begins by examining dreams. Jenna says of dreams in the musical’s first song, “Could we ever live without them?” Dan, on the other hand says, “I’ve already lived my dreams.”
| Onstage |
| ‘A Second Chance’ |
| Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington |
| When: Through Dec. 11 |
| Info: $41 to $47; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org |
Yet in the very first scene, where the two meet at a dinner party, Dan is intrigued with Jenna, and over the space of seven months they go to museums, have drinks and share pizza in a gentle, slow-going romance. Certain songs are particularly memorable, like “Tell Me When,” a melancholic ballad Dan addresses to his late wife, “The Museum Song,” which the couple sing as they tour the Museum of Modern Art, and a Latin number called “I Can’t Wait.”
The reason these songs satisfy is not just a matter of beat and lyrics or that they take more musical risks. It’s because they move the story along. Other numbers sound a lot like one another and don’t keep the action progressing in a specific direction.
In terms of characters, both Dan and Jenna are likable, appealing people. The musical’s main weak spot is that both of them have deep, interior questions about themselves that don’t quite ring true. Dan voices his insecurity first in “Damaged Goods,” where he sings of his doubts about his ability to love again, but that phrase doesn’t precisely equate with losing a life mate.
Jenna too sings of being “Damaged Goods” in Act II, claiming that she doesn’t deserve love. Again, it’s as though some serious psychological divining has gone on offstage and the audience is not privy to it.
Directed by Jonathan Butterell, the pacing is brisk and the action easy to follow. Five musicians play many instruments just offstage, under the musical direction of Zak Sandler. Robert Brill’s set is a raised platform on which several transparent chairs are the only furniture. On the wall behind the stage, Rocco DiSanti’s projections establish place and time.
“A Second Chance” is short — about an hour and a half long — and ultimately a very pleasant way to watch two well-defined personalities reflect and decide whether they can dream, love and forget their ghosts together.
