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"Assassination Scene" by Jason Atkinson. 7/10
"A government job means that you are set for life... if you suddenly fade out... They'll find a little corner for you in the complex mechanism and there you will sit until retirement."

Middle-aged Washington DC government employee Daniel is about to encounter change. In fact, he will soon be assassinated. When he calls young rookie employee Sadie to his office to warn her that it has become apparent that she is the first to leave for the day, he learns that she has been busy directing a play: William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Well, it turns out they need some smaller roles filled, and Daniel might do. In fact, when he proves to be a good reader, Sadie asks him to try out for the part of main man Caesar himself (though of course we all know that Caesar is not the star of Shakespeare's play, but a middling character, along the lines of the ghost of King Hamlet). This is a simple story with a simple lesson, yet well written with a great last line. The tone and language is distant, very formal, like Daniel himself, and like Daniel it wants to be more. The interview with Sadie is well constructed, with Daniel fighting between wanting to be a part of her project, and his official government side creeping in to warn him it is not a good idea. The assassination is, of course, a metaphor, a symbolic death, a removal from the corner Daniel has been shuffled into.

GENIUS FAMOUS
2005 NYC FRINGE FESTIVAL CAST

Greed, dysfunctional relationships, and a story including the discovery that a brand of toothpaste has the surprising side effect of curing depression - what more could you want?  A plate of macaroni and cheese that glows in the dark?  Actually, the musical Genius Famous has that, too.  This quirky, edgy little-show-that-could from last year's Fringe Festival in Manhattan is now available on CD.  It's a low budget affair as far as recordings go, hardly state of the art, but it has a lot going for it.  There's some wild humor, high energy performances by a youthful cast and a boldness that's kind of endearing in its way.

It's a piece that's gone through changes and could use more work;   some lyrics could use a tweak and another twist, as well as some clarification.  It's not all instantly accessible in this version, but after a second and third listen, I found it more and more satisfying.  Stylistically, it's contemporary with pop and rock influences and a rollicking renegade kind of musical theater sensibility.  The characters have life and attitude, with some effective interaction.  The recording features the 2005 cast directed by Ryan J. Davis.  A cut song, "It's Hard to Love a Person When They're Suicidal," has dark irreverent humor and I'd vote for its reinstatement.  It's pretty funny, maybe a guilty pleasure.  The advertising world's rat race is a big part of the story (thus the toothpaste as a product to be marketed) and there's a jingle that's quite fun.  Another number about a woman's sometime anti-male bias is cute as a can't-live-with-'em-can't-live-without-'em statement.  And that song about the macaroni and cheese that glows in the dark (it's a long story) is tasty.    

Although the cast and material are uneven, there's some good work here.  The company does especially well in a sharp ensemble number about young underemployed people in the city trying to make ends meet.  Best of all is Matt Sigl whose goofy and madcap merriment suits the piece, especially in a number in which he covets a prestigious credit card.  The music, lyrics and book are by Jason Atkinson, who shows talent and is already onto other projects.  He's writing a new musical about musicians and has his own more low-key pop album, Friendly Radio, as a singer-songwriter.

Those who have a taste for satire and something off the beaten path will appreciate the potential and zing of Genius Famous.  In the interest of truthful marketing, it won't cure depression any more than toothpaste can, but it may temporarily make you smile several smiles with those pearly whites. 

And I think I'll leave you while you're smiling. 

                          
But really is any radio show nowadays friendly? If it’s not 
playing obnoxious pop or R&B, you have bad and very venomous talk radio. 
So maybe that was the inspiration behind the music, which would find a 
welcome home on practically anyone’s radio dial. Jason’s voice could be 
liked to admitted inspiration Nick Drake. What’s surprising is the hip 
drums on “Earned” that could have easily found a home on any Japanese 
chill-out compilation. It’s those types of surprises that’ll keep you 
coming back, whether they reside in the lyrical, vocal, or production 
department.
                            
     

Off the wall sense of humor delivered in a lo-fi indie package. Atkinson has a way of taking
a pretty piece of music and his almost spoken vocal delivery and hypnotizing the listener. 
It takes a couple of listens for his humor to sink in but it eventually does just that. 
Maybe radio will be friendly to Jason or maybe the title is just wishful thinking on his part. 

Either way, I’m with you brother.