If you're a fan of so-called "reality TV" — or even if you aren't — you might relish the prospect of "Nobody Loves You," a musical send-up of dating shows like "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette." Featuring a script by Itamar Moses and music by Gaby Alter (they co-wrote the lyrics), it takes satirical aim at a rather easy target, but for the most part, director Heidi McKerley's Horizon Theatre staging still manages to miss the mark.
When his girlfriend dumps him to go audition as a contestant on the widely watched TV show “Nobody Loves You,” Jeff attempts to woo her back, swallowing his pride (and skepticism) by trying out for the program himself. A philosophy grad student who happens to be in need of a “viable thesis” for his dissertation, he makes the cut — which is more than can be said for his ex — and quickly decides to write about the “authenticity” of the show, or lack thereof. “People can either connect or perform,” he says, “but they can’t do both at the same time.”
Indeed. McKerley’s company of proven actors performs the show with ample spunk, but none of them seems to really connect with the material. Brad Raymond does fairly well as the slick TV host, but Wendy Melkonian is largely squandered as its executive producer. Other manic contestants in the “absurd charade” are tackled by Leslie Bellair, Austin Tijerina, Jennifer Alice Acker and, least overbearingly, Ben Thorpe.
It’s off-camera and behind the scenes that Jeff inevitably finds a new love interest in Jenny, a production assistant and aspiring filmmaker. She’s played by the fine Jeanette Illidge — if not arguably misplayed (or misdirected), insofar as the actress brings such a sweet and winning charm to a role that’s described as “dour” and “prickly.”
Considering the extensive track records of his co-stars, and given the potentially thankless task of portraying the straight man of the piece, it’s moderately surprising that newcomer Patrick Wade would fare best as Jeff. He captures nicely the character’s “refreshing and unconventional quality,” even when the rest of the show is hardly that.
The numerous tunes are generally frivolous and forgettable, with titles like “People Are Stupid,” “You’re Incredibly Real,” “I Don’t Care What Anybody Thinks” and “The Twitter Song,” although they are sung with undeniable gusto by the cast. Music director Alli Lingenfelter (on keyboards) leads Horizon’s snappy four-piece band.
You’d think McKerley could have done more to emphasize the whole television angle, as popular as video projections are in a lot of theater productions these days. An anonymous cameraman periodically roams the set just pretending to be taping the show, when some kind of live video feed could have been interesting. In a few confessional asides to the audience, actors step out of the scene and into a spotlight, when prerecorded video clips could have been funnier.
Too trivial to be mistaken for “insightful commentary,” as Jeff might call it, “Nobody Loves You” plays it fast and loose — and safe — instead.
THEATER REVIEW
“Nobody Loves You”
Grade: B-
Through April 30. 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 3 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays (no matinee on April 29); 5 p.m. Sundays (excluding April 30); 8 p.m. Sunday (April 30 only). $25-$35. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. (in Little Five Points), Atlanta. 404-584-7450, www.horizontheatre.com.
Bottom line: Mostly a missed opportunity.
