For the past two years, I have had a front-row seat to the developing careers of two young artists, Kelsey Fehlner and Samuel Aaron Tolley. This weekend, their two-year professional journey in Richmond will reach its culmination with their very own original musical Wheels Will Turn. With Fehlner penning a poignant script, built on dynamic character relationships, and Tolley composing fun eclectic music combined with catchy lyrics, the young writing team has made an excellent start.
The musical follows two best friends from high school now in college. Tolley plays the protagonist Logan while Fehlner supports as Logan’s best friend Rose. When Logan learns that their high school drama teacher Mr. Houston (affectionately called “Hughes” for short by his students) is on his deathbed, he suggests a road trip across the country. Conflict is on the horizon though, when Logan insists on inviting Zach, a former high school friend with whom Logan has a complicated history. Played by Sam Jones, Zach reluctantly agrees to join the trip at the behest of his current college girlfriend Katie, played by Nancy Kent Collie, hoping that this trip will help spark some much needed chemistry into their otherwise stagnating relationship. Finally, Teddy, a quirky and misunderstood classmate of Logan and Rose played Brandon James Johns, joins the crew’s trip at the last minute.
One of the shows greatest strengths lies in the colorful relationships that exist between each of these characters, a high tribute to both Fehlner for being able to juggle the various one-on-one dynamics throughout her scenes and director Lucian Restivo for expertly guiding the ensemble and making it easy for audience members to know to whom they should give their attention at any given time. At the forefront is Logan and Zach whose history as high school sweethearts becomes apparent with many hints the audience is quick to pick up on before Zach ever reveals that he is gay.
All of the cast members handle Tolley’s complex score with relative ease and solid skill, at times executing impressive and difficult harmonies. All of the songs flow organically from the scenes, and the most enjoyable numbers appear in the second act when characters break from the convention of being in the van to bursting into fun choreography, helping to provide a mix of fun in light of the impending drama that comes from complicated relationships and fear for a beloved teacher’s health.
Brandon James Johns shines in his role as Teddy. A dynamic character, Johns is able to find all of Teddy’s beats, whether it’s the character’s offbeat love and expression for zoology and animals or the moments in which Teddy provides comic relief and tender warmth and love to his friends, providing for a unique philosophy along the way. His performance alone is reason enough to watch the show.
Zach is perhaps one of the most interesting characters written in the show, and Jones is incredibly strong in the part. He is able to portray the complex internal struggle Zach has throughout the course of the journey, and you can’t help but sympathize the way in which Zach is unable to reciprocate the feelings Katie and Logan have for him, while still conveying that he cares. Tolley and Fehlner’s real-life friendship exudes magnificently through their onstage counterparts as Logan and Rose lean on one another through the trip and wrestle with the fate of Hughes. Collie does a nice job playing Katie, a preppy college girl who has depth beyond her superficial surface.
Amidst all the humor that comes from being stuck in the most awkward road trip ever and the angst of personal relationship drama, Wheels’ real heart comes from the way in which the four high school friends reflect on what will happen to Hughes and what an incredible impact he has had on each of their lives. Even though Hughes never appears onstage, the audience can grab a sense of what an inspirational and loving figure he was through the performances given by Tolley, Fehlner, Jones, and Johns. He means something different to each of them and helped them become the dynamic individuals they currently are.
All in all, Wheels Will Turn combines so many elements of a young person’s life experience that audience members will each come away with some different to reflect upon. It’s a comedic road trip, a journey of self-discovery, a coming of age story, and a question of how we deal with tragedy in our lives, all wrapped up in great musical performances. You’ll find me there tonight in its final performance at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Theatre Gym at 8 pm.
The musical follows two best friends from high school now in college. Tolley plays the protagonist Logan while Fehlner supports as Logan’s best friend Rose. When Logan learns that their high school drama teacher Mr. Houston (affectionately called “Hughes” for short by his students) is on his deathbed, he suggests a road trip across the country. Conflict is on the horizon though, when Logan insists on inviting Zach, a former high school friend with whom Logan has a complicated history. Played by Sam Jones, Zach reluctantly agrees to join the trip at the behest of his current college girlfriend Katie, played by Nancy Kent Collie, hoping that this trip will help spark some much needed chemistry into their otherwise stagnating relationship. Finally, Teddy, a quirky and misunderstood classmate of Logan and Rose played Brandon James Johns, joins the crew’s trip at the last minute.
One of the shows greatest strengths lies in the colorful relationships that exist between each of these characters, a high tribute to both Fehlner for being able to juggle the various one-on-one dynamics throughout her scenes and director Lucian Restivo for expertly guiding the ensemble and making it easy for audience members to know to whom they should give their attention at any given time. At the forefront is Logan and Zach whose history as high school sweethearts becomes apparent with many hints the audience is quick to pick up on before Zach ever reveals that he is gay.
All of the cast members handle Tolley’s complex score with relative ease and solid skill, at times executing impressive and difficult harmonies. All of the songs flow organically from the scenes, and the most enjoyable numbers appear in the second act when characters break from the convention of being in the van to bursting into fun choreography, helping to provide a mix of fun in light of the impending drama that comes from complicated relationships and fear for a beloved teacher’s health.
Brandon James Johns shines in his role as Teddy. A dynamic character, Johns is able to find all of Teddy’s beats, whether it’s the character’s offbeat love and expression for zoology and animals or the moments in which Teddy provides comic relief and tender warmth and love to his friends, providing for a unique philosophy along the way. His performance alone is reason enough to watch the show.
Zach is perhaps one of the most interesting characters written in the show, and Jones is incredibly strong in the part. He is able to portray the complex internal struggle Zach has throughout the course of the journey, and you can’t help but sympathize the way in which Zach is unable to reciprocate the feelings Katie and Logan have for him, while still conveying that he cares. Tolley and Fehlner’s real-life friendship exudes magnificently through their onstage counterparts as Logan and Rose lean on one another through the trip and wrestle with the fate of Hughes. Collie does a nice job playing Katie, a preppy college girl who has depth beyond her superficial surface.
Amidst all the humor that comes from being stuck in the most awkward road trip ever and the angst of personal relationship drama, Wheels’ real heart comes from the way in which the four high school friends reflect on what will happen to Hughes and what an incredible impact he has had on each of their lives. Even though Hughes never appears onstage, the audience can grab a sense of what an inspirational and loving figure he was through the performances given by Tolley, Fehlner, Jones, and Johns. He means something different to each of them and helped them become the dynamic individuals they currently are.
All in all, Wheels Will Turn combines so many elements of a young person’s life experience that audience members will each come away with some different to reflect upon. It’s a comedic road trip, a journey of self-discovery, a coming of age story, and a question of how we deal with tragedy in our lives, all wrapped up in great musical performances. You’ll find me there tonight in its final performance at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Theatre Gym at 8 pm.
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