"The Wild Party" - by Andrew Lippa - A Common Thread Theatre Company (Framingham, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Milon Sneed as “Kate” in a scene from the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“He didn’t want to be bad. He didn’t want to run from girl to girl. There was just no one who understood him. No one who knew what he needed. He was bored. He was sore. He was dying for more.”
- ("Girls") / Andrew Lippa
A Common Thread Theatre Company
Presents the Andrew Lippa Musical
"THE WILD PARTY"
Book, Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Directed by Jamie Banks
Music Director Kathryn Denney
Choreographer Abbie Lemieux
Producers Jill Mack and Kathryn Denney
Cast Includes: Alyssa Tschirgi as “Queenie,” Dan Lade as “Burrs,” Milon Sneed as “Kate,” Aidan Jackson as “Black,” Benjamin Theis as “Eddie,” Ronnie Ross as “Mae,” A. Foley as “Madeline True,” Brandon Snyder as “Phil D’armano,” Casey Williamson as “Oscar D’armano,” Valerie Cekovsky as “Dolores,” Katie Najarian as “Nadine,” Shoshana Adams as “Max,” Stephanie Gomes as “Jackie,” Dakota Menard as “Sam.”
Ensemble: Kaitlyn Ball, Christine Cochrane, Juliana Menard, Sarah Parker, Jodi Schoolcraft.
Additional Creative Team:
Dance Captain - Kaitlyn Ball; Dramaturg - Jason Polunci; Stage Manager - Nathan Kikonyogo; Lighting Design - Satyendra Enami; Lighting Crew - Monica Ruiz, Elizabeth Adams; Sound Design - Lexi B. Hellion; Sound Advisor - Bryce Denney; Costume Design and Construction - Elizabeth Horwitz; Props - Carolyn Olson; Costume and Props Crew - Deirdre Bergeron; Set Design - Jaimee Banks; Set Construction - Peter Allia; Set Painting - Monica Ruiz, Betsy Adams, Rachel Powers, Dina Kovar, Jane Adams; Set Dressing - Elizabeth Horwitz, Carolyn Olson; Hair and Makeup - Lisa Graveline; Intimacy Coordinator - Nathan Kikonyogo; Digital Artwork, Design and Videography - Kristin Fehlau; Program - Joanne Robinson; House Manager - Jill Mack, Dina Kovar, Mariah Bundy; Facilities Manager - David Mack.
Performances:
July 24, 2026 through August 2, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
All performances to be held in the Dennison Memorial Hall, Boston Church of Christ, 214 Concord Street, Framingham, MA. 01702
TICKETS:
For tickets and more information, contact the Box Office at # 508-834-4682 or visit https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office
BUY TICKETS
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(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
A Common Thread Theatre Company invites all musical thrill seekers to "THE WILD PARTY" now happening in Framingham.
Featuring dedicated performances by the principals and supporting cast, this high-power musical, under the direction of Jaimee Banks, completely captures the atmosphere of a seamier, steamier and seedier side of the roaring 1920s.
In addition, think “42nd Street”-meets-“Cabaret” and you’ve basically got the costume plot for "WILD PARTY" with the attention to detail for all costumes outstanding.
Like the recent onslaught of seemingly endless “Gatsby” musical adaptations, back on Broadway around 1999, "THE WILD PARTY" was one of two musicals sharing not only the same name but the same source material.
Both musicals were based on the 1928 Joseph Moncure March poem of the same name (which, in turn, was inspired by an actual infamous 1921 “wild party” scandal involving silent film actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle resulting in the tragic death of actress Virginia Rappe).
A Common Thread Theatre Company has staged the musical with book and score by Andrew Lippa and NOT the version by Michael John LaChiusa, which is vastly different.
Even a quarter of a century later, debate still lingers on which show is “better,” which, of course, is completely subjective.
In the Lippa musical, the central plot focuses on a tragic love triangle from March’s poem, eliminating many of the characters found in LaChiusa's version.
Lippa’s upbeat, pop-rock score features songs that do not necessarily tie-in with the story, while the LaChiusa smoother, jazz-inspired score literally drives the story.
Yet, both musicals have found a loyal audience.
Lippa's "WILD PARTY", which he began writing in 1996 and is now being presented by Common Thread, debuted Off-Broadway in 2000, running for a limited 54 performances.
It is not difficult to understand why as it does not have a lot of layered characters nor that one character that audiences tend to want to "root for."
However, the musical has since established a devout cult following, especially those fans of other works by Andrew Lippa (who also provided the score for the musical adaptation of “The Addams Family” and contributed three new songs to the 1999 revival of “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown”).
Winner of the 2000 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical (along with four additional 2000 Outer Critics Circle Awards), "THE WILD PARTY" also received 13 Drama Desk Award nominations and an Obie Award for Best Choreography.
(Photo: Alyssa Tschirgi as “Queenie” in a moment from the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
Set against the backdrop of the roaring 1920s, sexually “ravenous” Queenie (Alyssa Tschirgi) seeks her king.
Queenie renders the show’s opener supported by an ensemble that sets us up for brassy, brass-knuckled ambience of a decadent 1920s atmosphere.
Tschirgi gives an uncompromising portrayal of Queenie, who is unable to find a that “perfect man,” the one who can quench her insatiable sexual desires.
Queenie loves being adored and the center of attention with no dreams of domestic bliss, which she sings about in the opener then later in the songs "Raise the Roof" and “Maybe I Like It This Way.”
However, she soon hooks up with Burrs (Dan Lade), a Vaudeville entertainer (aka a Vaudevillian “clown”) with an equally matched libido and a predatory passion for women.
Lade is similarly committed to his portrayal of Burrs who, toward the end of the first act, laments about his fixated yet toxic relationship with Queenie in "What Is It About Her?"
While Queenie and Burrs enjoy three years of symbiotic sexual bliss, soon the excitement wears off, and each begins to tire of their “exclusive” relationship.
Also, while finding his aggressive nature intoxicating at the outset, Queenie has now become concerned that, should she ever try to leave him, Burrs could become violent.
So, to try and "save" their relationship, she suggests they throw a "WILD PARTY."
I mean, what possibly could go wrong, right?
While the type of place in which the couple lives is kept vague, it still must be an expansive estate because soon the entire place if “flooded” – Prohibition be damned - with a multitude of already boozed-up partygoers who look like they all just arrived from another "WILD PARTY" (maybe LaChiusa's?).
The entire Common Thread Theatre Company cast ably assists in the various transitions from one room to another in the home of Queenie and Burrs, allowing for relatively smooth albeit obvious transitions.
(Photo: Dan Lade as “Burrs” with Alyssa Tschirgi as “Queenie” in a scene from the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
At Common Thread Theatre Company's "THE WILD PARTY" we meet the colorful collection of lascivious guests which includes:
- The sultry and seductive Kate (Milon Sneed) who arrives with her new friend, the naïve and sheltered Mr. Black (Aidan Jackson) in tow;
- Aggressive lesbian Madelaine (A. Foley) who arrives seeking her next lover;
- Large, dim-witted professional boxer Eddie (Benjamin Theis), who is always jealous of his sweet, childlike girlfriend/wife, Mae (Ronnie Ross);
- “Mute” dancer Jackie (Stephanie Gomes) who communicates and expresses high physical and sexual energy entirely through movement;
- The flamboyant, inseparable pair of musician-entertainers brothers Phil (Brandon Snyder) and Oscar (Casey Williamson) d'Armano;
- Hooker Dolores (Valerie Cekovsky);
- And the underage Nadine (Katie Najarian).
All the above supporting performances are rock solid and, under the guidance of Common Thread music director Kathryn Denney, the ensemble keeps the show’s adrenaline-infused score moving along nicely at its adventurous pace.
(Photo: The CAST of the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
Unfortunately, poor sound quality issues and popping noises from the body mics plagued the entire July 24th Common Thread performance, making it difficult for the audience to understand much of the dialogue as sung.
As the libidinous evening festivities unfold, Queenie pursues Black who locks in on her like a lovesick puppy from the moment he arrives with Kate.
Kate, conversely, seems to be far less interested in Black, treating him more like a “Mr. Right Now” instead of the “Mr. Right.”
Aidan Jackson is outstanding as the handsome, reserved “Black,” offering a “fish out of water” level of naivete to the character, which seems to appeal to Queenie.
Black, meanwhile, provides a grounded, emotional core and reflection on a past love, which he sings about in the tender solo, "I'll Be Here."
As sensitively portrayed by Jackson, to Black, every sordid event taking place at the "PARTY" is a completely new and foreign experience.
(Photo: Milon Sneed as “Kate” in a scene from the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
Ultimately, regret will follow all those who attend this party for the rest of their lives - but for now the party is in full swing….and I do mean “swing.”
The level of drugs, booze and predatory libidinous behavior at "THE WILD PARTY" is off the charts, happening in full view of many of the partygoers who seem completely unphased at some of the shocking events taking place.
Lesbian Madelaine hits on underage Nadine while jealous boxer Eddie is drunk and starts to get hostile with Burrs.
As Madelaine, A. Foley is always funny and humorously explains the kind of person she seeks in the song, “An Old-Fashioned Love Story.”
Burrs also moves in on the totally disinterested jailbait Nadine but soon after leans in on the very much interested Kate (in a deliciously decadent performance by Milon Sneed).
Sneed steals nearly every scene in which she appears, giving a mesmerizing rendition of the second act opener, “The Life of the Party.”
Even though the inevitable - and potentially fatal - repercussions of their mutual infidelities seem almost expected, neither Burrs nor Queenie appears to care.
Under the guidance of Common Thread choreographer Abbie Lemieux, "THE WILD PARTY" has some enthusiastic dance numbers which include "The Juggernaut," "A Wild, Wild Party" and "Raise the Roof."
(Photo: Aidan Jackson as “Black” with Alyssa Tschirgi as “Queenie” in a scene from the musical "THE WILD PARTY" by Andrew Lippa presented by A Common Thread Theatre Company in Framingham, MA. now playing through August 2, 2026. Photo Credit Kristin Fehlau)
Playing from the balcony, the live Common Thread orchestra conducted by Parker Eastman was completely in sync with the performers on stage.
"THE WILD PARTY" continues from A Common Thread Theatre Company until August 2nd, 2026 at Concord Avenue in Framingham.
For tickets and more information, contact the Box Office at # 508-834-4682 or visit https://www.acommonthreadtheatre.org/box-office
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
In the Andrew Lippa musical "THE WILD PARTY" - Based on Joseph Moncure March’s 1928 poem of the same name, Lippa's "THE WILD PARTY" tells the story of a vaudeville dancer named Queenie and a vaudeville clown named Burrs - her passionate and violent lover.
Queenie is fed up with the life she lives and the pain Burrs puts her through, so she decides to throw the party to end all parties to shake things up a little.
Burrs agrees and they invite a whole slew of colorful characters to their home.
Queenie decides to make Burrs jealous, and when Kate (a high class prostitute who has her eye on Burrs) shows up with a mysterious man named Mr. Black, Queenie goes a little too far and begins to fall in love.
A long night of decadence begins to reach it’s peak in this violent and tragic 1920s world. (STAGEAGENT)
ABOUT A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY
A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY is a community theatre, founded by local theatre veterans, which seeks to unite the Greater Boston area under a common goal: to foster, promote, and increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the arts and cultural activities through theatre and other artistic endeavors. Committed to providing hands-on training and education of actors, designers, directors and others involved in theatre productions, A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY board members and instructors have been producing, directing and creating theatre in the Metrowest area for the past decade.
A COMMON THREAD THEATRE COMPANY
# 508-834-4682
