George Street Playhouse debuts a brand new musical - “A Walk on the Moon” and it is as lustrous as the pearly light of the full moon itself.  In fact, Pearl Kantrowitz (Jackie Burns) is about to have an epiphany worthy of a coming of age, even though she’s a happily married mother of two.  Yet, how what it means to be happy changes as we look at the facets.  Marty (Jonah Platt) is Pearl’s husband, a TV repairman who’s super busy tuning up sets in the run up to the Moon Walk. The year is 1969 and Dr. Fogler’s Bungalow Colony in the Catskills, where the Kantrowitz and their friends’ families vacation, is a stone’s throw away from a more ephemeral cultural icon, Woodstock.  Teenage daughter Alison (Carly Gendell) is going through her rebellious stage, while her brother Danny (Cody Braverman) is doing all the goofy boy things that drive older sisters crazy.  Marty’s Mom Lillian (Jill Abramovitz) is there to keep an eye on the children to give Pearl a bit of a break, when a chance meeting takes everything off the rails. 
1969 was a crucible for civil rights, music, science, culture, race relations, technology, and a burgeoning recognition of the restrictive roles that did not support, and were not supported by, the world that was becoming.  When Pearl meets Walker Jerome (John Arthur Greene), there’s a tangible spark–and that’s all it takes to potentially burn down the House of Kantrowitz. 
Pamela Gray, screenwriter of the original film, does the honors on book, with music and lyrics by the dynamic Paul Scott Goodman and AnnMarie Milazzo.  Gray also contributes some additional lyrics.  Sheryl Kaller’s direction with Josh Prince’s choreography and musical direction by Greg Kenna, and Greg Anthony Rassen’s arrangements set the affect, while the period hair and wigs by Charles LaPointe, Linda Cho’s costume design, and makeup by Robin L. McGee hearken back to those deckle-edged black-and-white photos held in place with sticky points on black paper in photo albums. We are in a time machine where we learn that not even Gen Jones invented wanting more.  The yearning for a bigger life is within all of us. 
There are some perfect moments in this show–Jackie Burns has many of them.  Pearl’s younger self with hopes and dreams emerges, drawn forth by Walker’s vigor and energy.  John Arthur Greene plays Walker with verve and an insouciance that is energizing to Pearl’s routine days.  Their moments are so deftly played that you’ll wonder throughout whether the fire was the frisson of delightful limerance or whether it was just a sparkle of moonlight, a gossamer thread for a moment then lost to time.
This show boasts an amazing cast beyond Burns and Green. Abramovitz’ Lillian recognizes the yearning she sees in Pearl and some part of you knows she had her own temptation.  She’s a different kind of Earth Mother, loving to all and a true friend to her daughter-in-law. Gendell’s Alison has that shattering moment of realizing that her mother had, and still has, many of the feelings and hormones flowing through the neurons and dendrites–her parents had sex for her to be here!  It’s horrifying and adult-making in one fell swoop, and we see it all in her body and on her face.  This a work of many parts and each person will carry away their own special memories. 
“A Walk on the Moon” is running only through May 21, hurry! Get your tickets now for a moving new musical.   Visit GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org today!