Theater Review: First Date

 

                         Cast members of “First Date”

There may be nothing more fraught with anxiety, anticipation and – let’s face it – fear than that first date – especially if it’s a blind date. 

Or is it really something to anticipate with curiosity, even joy?

Four men and three women cavort, argue, dance, insult, sing and/or agree to date and perhaps even love each other in Dustin Winberg’s 2012 musical “First Date,” playing through Nov. 6 at Chula Vista’s OnStage Playhouse. 

They are all looking for “The One,” and anyone who’s tried that knows what a trial it can be. 

The setting is a cafe, where the waiter (Enrique Arana) serves up drinks to several patrons including a chunky, lost-looking man named Aaron (Benjamin Monts), seriously overdressed in a business suit and tie, who says he’s waiting for a girl. The waiter (who knows the drill) immediately removes Aaron’s tie and musses him up a bit to prepare him for the encounter.

An unlikely date walks in – Casey (Kylie Young), a pretty blonde with very short shorts and a top that doesn’t cover much. She tops off the outfit with high heels and a hat. 

She looks at the nerve-racked Aaron and figures No Way. She’s put off by his nervousness. But the waiter pours drinks and she gamely makes a stab at conversation, finishing with “My name is Casey and I’m a serial dater.”

Can Casey be The One? I’ll leave that to you to find out.

Meanwhile, other cafe patrons are meeting, drinking, eating and (perhaps) wondering if he or she is The One. Some are related to Casey (her sister Lauren, for example, and her grandmother (Kylie Young and Emily Candia); others are alternately stoners or characters named Reggie (Andrew Gutierrez) and Gabe (Jaden Guerrero) – or other a flurry of other characters unnamed in the program.

Sound confusing? It is, just like serial dating and trying to meet The One. But the one-act show is played lickety-split so you don’t have time to even consider getting bored, and the songs are fun, as is the fine three-man onstage band.(Musical Director Benjamin Goniea on keyboard, Roy Jenkins on bass and Preston Large on drums).

“First Date” even includes a few members of the previous generation (father, mother, etc), who intrude with their own opinions of who should date whom.

Dating can be fun or a chore or even serious business. The terrific cast of “First Date” gives you an amusing glance at the possibilities, in portrayed by a fabulous cast. It’s a wonderful evening’s entertainment.