The new musical "Relapse" at Theatre Row uneasily toes a line midway between optimism and pessimism. Written by J. Giachetti (book and lyrics) and Louis Josephson (music and additional lyrics), the show manages to expose the torment of each patient and the intramural bickering and name-calling among themselves.
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Louis Josephson, who is still a student at Juilliard, has composed a competent rock score, full of propulsive arrangements, with soaring arias, duets and ensemble numbers delivered by a young appealing cast of powerhouse singers.
On the other hand, the premise is familiar, the way it plays out offers little fresh insight or originality, and neither the lyrics nor the dialogue offer much in the way of subtext or subtlety.
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