Never Been Kissed – Another Success for Rockwell Musical Parodies

Among the many classic teen comedies of the 1990s – Clueless, Can’t Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s All That – Never Been Kissed ranks among the best of them, and now its musical parody graces the stage at Rockwell Table & Stage. The sweet romantic-comedy has been injected with catchy songs, fun choreography, and moments that poke fun at the already over-the-top narrative.

Back to School

Aspiring journalist Josie is given her first undercover assignment: She is to pose as a high schooler to see what kind of exposé she can produce. Josie was never popular in high school – actually quite the opposite – and still struggles to fit in, even being the 25-year-old she is now. With her job on the line, Josie must find a story during her stay in high school. Even if it means outing her teacher Sam, with whom she has fallen in love, as having inappropriate feelings for one of his students: Her.

As with other Rockwell Musical Parodies, Never Been Kissed brings high-caliber performances, well-chosen musical numbers, and all-around magic to the evening. Actors energetically weave in, out, and around the audience sat at tables spaced throughout the room – the performances shifting between a makeshift X-shaped stage on the floor, a proper built-in stage housing the Gregory Nabours-led live band and the bar’s countertop – and occasionally interact with guests sitting up close (hold onto your drinks – I know from experience). Since there are no proper sets, the scenes are differentiated by the actors’ locations in the room. The staging may have guests turning in their chairs or craning their necks to see, but those instances are brief, as director Emma Hunton (A League of Their Own) has the cast almost constantly moving throughout the space. The lively musical numbers are both apt and thematically relevant – especially the uptempo numbers like “Barbie Girl” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” choreographed by Mallory Butcher – and they move the narrative along in spectacular fashion.

Going Undercover

While the cast of Never Been Kissed consists of many talented Rockwell alums, this is Josie’s story, and Lana McKissack absolutely shines in a role that fits her perfectly. McKissack, who previously played the very serious Eleven in Stranger Things, gets to run the gamut of emotions as Josie, and the audience is firmly in the palm of her hand during each of her scenes. She shows off her comedic timing when failing to get the popular high schoolers to like her, and she breaks hearts at Josie’s absolute lowest moments that showcase McKissack’s depth as an actor. Even with egg on her dress or waiting on the pitcher’s mound for a kiss, McKissack’s vulnerability and charm is magnetic and genuine, and her vocals are superb, especially in an enchanting new rendition of “Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys.

If McKissack is the heart of Never Been Kissed, Amanda Shechtman as Josie’s friend Anita (and high schooler Kristin) provides top-notch comedic relief. Portraying a character originally played by the incomparable Molly Shannon in the film, Shechtman steps up to the plate and delivers a home-run performance. Her overly-sexed Anita fabulously counter-balances Josie’s innocence, while her baby-voiced and energetic Kristin allows for some hysterical moments when trying to seduce Josie’s brother Rob. Speaking of Rob, it’s no wonder that Matt Shively was cast in the role. He skillfully sings and dances his way around his female admirers, and also brings a familiar wistfulness to a 20-something who thinks he peaked in high school. Nathan Moore, as Josie’s teacher and love interest Sam, plays a great straight man, but does get to let loose – and even twerks! – during a fun musical number. Moore’s voice also compliments McKissack’s well during their duet of “Wonderwall.” Natalie Masini (fresh off her lovely performances in Scissorhands and A League of Their Own) gets a chance to ham it up as mean girl Kirsten and Josie’s boss, Gayle. Erron Crawford (IT), Katie Self (10 Things I Hate About You) and Markesha Chatfield round out the cast perfectly.

Don’t Worry Baby

I must commend writer/producer Jordan Ross Schindler (Cruel Intentions, I Know What You Did Last Summer) for his adaptation and director Emma Hunton for her staging of a story that touches on such delicate subject matter. The 1999 film treads perilous ground with its depiction of a blossoming romance between a supposedly-underage female student and her male teacher, as well as a 23-year-old male and his head-over-heels 17-year-old prom date. While the film never crosses the line of inappropriate behavior, the Never Been Kissed Musical Parody script by Schindler goes one step further to remove itself from any misconstrued #metoo issues. In a spirited sex-ed presentation, Anita encourages the high schoolers to only have sex when they’re ready – and with consent, she adds, to a round of audience applause. The script further condemns relationships with those who are underage when Rob, posing as a popular high schooler, gets chased by several teenage girls (and outright propositioned by one), while he makes sure to keep his distance. The main romance between an undercover Josie and Sam remains a little problematic, but I definitely appreciate the effort to modernize the story for a post-#metoo audience.

Pucker Up

While it might be best to go into the show after revisiting the film – what better way to spot the attention to detail and catch the in-jokes? – Never Been Kissed is a fantastic blend of homage and parody that is sure to delight all audiences. With its pitch-perfect casting, ‘90s nostalgia, and engaging musical numbers, Never Been Kissed will have audiences believing in love.

Never Been Kissed runs now through February 23rd; purchase tickets HERE. Find out more information about the menu and location at Rockwell Table & Stage’s website and Facebook page. Find out more about Rockwell Musical Parodies on their Instagram.