St. Petersburg Times - MAXWELL Review
MAXWELL is geek opera, and that's a compliment
BY PETER SMITH
©Times Publishing Co.
published January 8, 2002
TAMPA -- What do you call a musical that features Stephen Hawking and quotes from Isaac Asimov?
A geek opera, that's what, and in this case, a really fine one. Joe Popp's MAXWELL, a Jobsite Theater production at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, is a science fiction rock musical that almost equals Paul Kantner's Blows Against the Empire in solid melodies, an occasionally thought-provoking story and sheer pleasure.
MAXWELL is the tale of a young genius and his attempt to make the world better. The boy creates a self-replicating robot with the power to free mankind from the drudgery of work. If what happens can be predicted by anyone who has seen an episode of The Twilight Zone, the characters and music are rich enough to carry the play along its well-trodden path.
As Maxwell is born to a working class couple, he is heard to say "correlation." This is an odd enough word for anyone to be saying, never mind a newborn.
Maxwell is a genius, IQ 249, and wins a scholarship to Cambridge, where he is encouraged by Stephen Hawking to follow his ideas to their logical conclusions.
"Everyone is unhappy. Everyone works. If they didn't have to work, they would be happy" is Maxwell's correlation, and he couldn't be more wrong. His discovery of why we don't really want to be without work is the crux of the play and gives the audience something to chew on besides the high-quality pop songs.
Jobsite founder David M. Jenkins plays Maxwell, who turns from Winston Smith to Big Brother in the course of the play. He is a solid rock singer and fine actor.
As Maxwell's girlfriend, Nevada Caldwell is a shining, ingenuous presence with a wonderful voice. Michael McGreevy plays Maxwell's father and the robot. In both roles he is sensible and stalwart. Asked to cure Caldwell's illness, the robot merely lays hands upon her. He then cures Stephen Hawking, establishing the Maxwell Machine as a force for good that is still resented.
As Maxwell's mother, Ami Sallee Corley is funny, sad and has a beautiful voice. Her duet with the robot, who looks like her dead husband, is touching. Maxwell's friend Oscar is played by Jason Evans, who is funny and chilling as he becomes more certain Maxwell is mad.
Chris Holcom plays Hawking. His delight at dancing again is one of the play's finest moments.
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IF YOU GO: Maxwell continues through Jan. 20 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun. $15, $12 students. (813) 229-7827 or toll-free 1-800-955-1045; or www.tbpac.org.