Starting Here, Starting Now at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre | Theater review

“What about today?” The lyric, powerfully belted by Stephanie Herman, condenses Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire’s 1977 musical revue into one question emphasizing the excitement and panic of living in the moment. Despite the occasional song about nostalgia or future opportunities, this is a show about embracing the here and now.

Following three young people as they discover love and loss for the first time, Starting Here, Starting Now has no explicit narrative, relying on Shire’s music to tell the story. The three actors instill the lyrics with emotional depth. Herman and Hillary Patingre stand out for the precision and versatility of their vocals; the two blend beautifully, with a chilling unison so exact it’s difficult to tell their voices apart. While Boone at times has a presentational stiffness, his costars lose themselves in the music. Herman’s teary-eyed “What About Today?” is a highlight.

Maltby and Shire’s easy-listening music is a product of its time, and director Fred Anzevino wisely avoids modernizing the setting. Set designer Adam Veness creates a tacky bachelor pad with animal prints, strings of beads and a single lava lamp, and the graphic patterns and flared pants of Raquel Adorno’s costumes capture ’70s fashion. Maggie Portman’s choreography makes great use of the intimate space, just flashy enough to be visually captivating without detracting from the music.