Review: For a Princeton Teenager, 'Empire Records' Strikes a Chord

Princeton, NJ -- On the night that I attended “Empire Records: The Musical” at the McCarter’s Berlind Theater, I was seated just two rows away from the action. The set literally loomed over me: the front window of a record store, plastered with band posters from the 1980s and ‘90s -- Metallica, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails; and an upper platform with “EMPIRE RECORDS” spelled out in neon. The theater was surprisingly packed for a Wednesday night, although I saw hardly anyone close to my age (a teenager). Once the lights dimmed, I settled back in my seat for the next hour and forty minutes.

“Empire Records” is a show about a group of teenagers working at a record store in a small town in New Jersey. Although they don’t get paid much, they love their jobs and the record store – one of the only places that will accept them as they are. That’s important, since all of the characters have their own struggles that make them outcasts. Gina wants to leave the town and her toxic mother but doesn’t have enough money and feels trapped by society’s expectations of a girl like her (presented perfectly in the “Girls Like Me” number). Debra struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. Corey is sweet and follows the rules but is secretly a fangirl and a nerd. AJ makes strange art and has a huge crush on Corey but is too shy to say it. And the list goes on.

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Tensions rise when musician Rex Manning comes to the store for a special event and shows everyone his true nature. His issues mix with the record store’s financial troubles to create a conflict that carries through to the end of the production. After everything is resolved, the cast comes back out on stage to tell a brief history of the real Empire Records store – recently reopened with shelves full of old and new popular songs.

The show was energetic, funny, and touching, with a great set design, soundtrack, and cast.

The set seemed simple at first: the front of the store, the inside of the store, an office, the roof sign, and a copy room. But the way these elements interacted with each other made me feel like I was there with the cast. The set was vibrant, almost pulsing with color and energy – effects particularly aided by the lighting, with changes in light intensity and color setting the mood of a scene.

The soundtrack was catchy and memorable. Some standout tracks for me were “Welcome to the Empire” as an intensely energetic introduction to the show, “Who I Am and Who I Was” as a step away from teenage drama to take a look at the adult members of the cast’s dreams, and “Cover Me With Sound” as a very earnest expression of how important music and the record store are to each character.

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The most moving track by far, however, was “Scissors,” Debra’s song about wanting to hurt herself and contemplating suicide. This difficult topic was well-conveyed through simple but hard-hitting lyrics and lighting and staging that brought the focus only onto Debra. As many teenagers go through mental health struggles, this song was very relatable for me and hopefully equally touched the hearts of the adults in the audience.

Each cast member gave a unique vocal performance that worked well with the pop-rock soundtrack. I particularly loved Analise Scarpaci’s portrayal of Debra, Samantha Williams’ portrayal of Gina, and Damon Daunno’s portrayal of Rex Manning. Other cast members, namely goofy, green-haired Mark and Warren the suspicious shoplifter, made the show hilarious with their silly antics. My favorite scene was when Warren was trying to steal some discs from the store but ended up caught in a crazy slo-mo chase scene, getting tackled by fellow customers and knocking out Mark.

Despite these positive elements, I had some issues with the plot, particularly with Corey and AJ’s love story. I thought AJ’s crush on Corey was very sweet and his song about it, “One Thirty-Seven,” really showcased his personality. However, it seemed as though Corey reciprocated his feelings too suddenly, especially after her massive celebrity crush on Rex Manning. AJ just doesn’t feel like the kind of person she would fall for. So, although I found the crush cute, considering each character’s personality, it just didn’t feel as good reciprocated. Plus, how many teenage crushes end in actual good relationships? It would have been more realistic for them to stay as friends.

I also sometimes wished the show would break out of the record store. The action operated in such a contained environment that it sometimes felt constrictive. For example, Gina’s parents seem to only exist over the phone. Not seeing their faces or her home robbed me of a greater understanding of the home life that led her to become who she is.

Overall, I loved the show. The story felt relatable to me, even though it was rather unrealistic. And even if it was unrealistic, it was still heartwarming to see all these outcast teenagers come together to support each other, from Gina and Corey realizing that they’re not on the same path in life but can still be friends to the whole store holding a fake funeral for Debra to remind her how important she is to them.

As a teenager, this show really spoke to me. More than just being nostalgic, it was a story about the universal joys and sorrows of teenage life, something that transcends generations and mediums.

“Empire Records” runs through Sunday, October 6, at McCarter.

Asya Morozov is a senior at Princeton High School, whose last story for TAPinto Princeton Community News was on the possibility of cell phone restrictions in the public schools.

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