It was a cold, wintry afternoon outside, but inside the cozy, intimate Sonnet Theater, it was warm and electric! I was lucky enough to catch the matinee of GPS, a wonderful new play by my friend and fellow poetry lover, Raphael Badagliacca. Directed by Gene Santarelli of the Producers Club Theaters, and with spirited music and lyrics by Susan Koessinger, GPS is a delight: witty, moving, and thought-provoking—all the things a live show should be. Powered by talented performers, it takes the audience for a rollicking ride.
The author of Father’s Day: Encounters with Everyday Life and The Yogi Poems, Raphael knows his way around the world of words. GPS captures many of the appealing elements of a memorable show. It’s:
Timely & Timeless: The show takes a wry and witty look at one of the staples of modern life: GPS—and manages to make its pervasive impact by turns sexy and sobering. GPS is also about life itself—it explores the ups and downs of living in today’s fractured, frantic world. Marriage fatigue, friendship, brotherhood, and the aftermath of pandemic isolation are all touched on through the lens of the ever-present, ever-watchful GPS systems that have come to guide our paths to wherever we’re going.
Entertaining: Laughter and warmth rippled through GPS. There’s a knowing quality about the show—a sympathetic touch that made it both entertaining and moving. We see ourselves in the characters on stage and can relate to the situations they encounter in a series of deft vignettes: the husband and wife who trade witty barbs, the friends who are going through a troubled patch while chasing self-improvement. We laugh at them and laugh at ourselves as well—always a tonic!
Energiziing & Enlivening: GPS is infused with some of Raphael’s enthusiasms, from baseball to literary classics. Those enthusiasms, add spice and punch to the show. When you pour what you love into your work, it shows on the page—and the stage.
Uplifting: While GPS is a series of varied vignettes, the end of the show brings them all together. The entire cast unites on stage to share a moment of connection. This brings the talented performers and the audience together—and ends the show on a high note.
Writing a play and getting it on stage isn’t easy—I know this firsthand! Making it all happen is a miracle. Bravo, Raphael—write on!
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