‘Songs about Stuff’ delivers on ’90s nostalgia

With walls slathered in Kurt Cobain and Guns N’ Roses posters, and a diner booth that looks like it was ripped straight out of a Denny’s, director and set designer Adam Carlson definitely sold the ’90s aesthetic. The stage itself was painted with groovy, neon designs and its edges were traffic cone orange. When paired with Joseph Dickson’s lighting, it created a sort of roller rink nostalgia that impressively captured the faux hippie, wannabe druggie essence of the characters.”

“Songs about Stuff: The Music of Wally Pleasant” - Riverwalk Theatre Black Box

228 Museum Drive
Lansing, MI (517) 482-5700

Th-Sa (July 14-16) 8 p.m. Su (July 17) 2 p.m. Staged by Over the Ledge Theatre Co.

A silly and sardonic 90-minute musical featuring the songs of local music legend Wally Pleasant, “Songs about Stuff” bristles with ‘90s angst, music references and the evergreen struggle of finding one’s footing as a young adult. 

So even with its grunge-era references, this show is sure to be relatable to millennials, boomers and zoomers alike.  

Produced by Over the Ledge Theatre Co. in collaboration with Riverwalk Theatre and performed in Riverwalk’s black box stage, the venue was cozy and intimate, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in the lives of the four friends.  

With walls slathered in Kurt Cobain and Guns N’ Roses posters, and a diner booth that looks like it was ripped straight out of a Denny’s, director and set designer Adam Carlson definitely sold the ’90s aesthetic. The stage itself was painted with groovy, neon designs and its edges were traffic cone orange. When paired with Joseph Dickson’s lighting, it created a sort of roller rink nostalgia that impressively captured the faux hippie, wannabe druggie essence of the characters.  

The pit — composed of music director and former teacher Sharon Garner on keys, Scott R. Harding on percussion and Yoshi Fukagawa on guitar — was also impressive and had the audience tapping their feet for 90 minutes straight.  

Despite the spot-on set and music, the costumes struggled to match the ’90s marathon. Unfortunately, they felt like an afterthought. The skinny jeans, sensible sneakers and plain tops took away from the show. In a time where ’90s fashion is having a revival, it makes no sense to dress characters in anything but genuine, throwback slacker gear.  

Carrying the show are four actors: Jeff Kennedy, Courtlandt Lyons, Anasti Her and Storm Kopitsch. Her, performing for the first time since the pandemic and in her first musical since high school, played the bubbly and bright performative activist, psycho roommate and girl in love convincingly enough that one could assume she’d approach you after the show to make sure your jacket was vegan leather.  

Utterly devoted to the deadpan delivery of every pun in her way, Kopitsch was a joy to watch. Kopitsch had audience members giggling while keeping an absolute poker face during some of the funniest moments of the show. It was downright impressive.  

A devotee of Wally Pleasant’s music, Kennedy’s performance shines because the songs roll from his mouth so naturally. Kennedy’s character is always complaining about something: a bad haircut, a stupid day job, and his true love being in love with a geek — but it’s clear Kennedy is having the time of his life. 

Lyons is a real-life MSU vet student who delivers a believable and angsty art school kid. Lyons’ character felt the most relatable, and the most hopeful. Lyons starts off the show, by reminiscing on his college days. He ends up stuck in a boring office job, and audience members could hear genuine sadness when he sings about his fleeting dream of becoming a pop star. He knows it will never happen. Despite his dissatisfaction in much of the show, Lyons’ ends the production with a necessary, optimistic note. 

Overall, those who are new to the music of Wally Pleasant are sure to be delighted, and those who are fond of his music will be overjoyed.