Greg Heffley is stuck in the middle. At home, he’s got an older brother named Rodrick who’s a rock star (or at least he’s in a band called Loaded Diaper), and he’s got a little brother named Manny, whose every sniffle is adorable.
And at school, well, it’s middle school, so, ugh. But Greg’s sure it’s going to be his year to become popular, but his plans don’t go according to plan in the musical adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
With a book by Kevin Del Aguila and music and lyrics by Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler, this catchy play was first commissioned and produced by The Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN in 2022.
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The version at First Stage, directed by Julie Woods-Robinson runs a production time that’s just a little bit over an hour. The packed house laughed at all the right times, and during the intermission, several audience members literally skipped into the lobby, singing “All the Mom Bucks,” a song about getting rich from the monopoly money Greg’s mom gives him as a reward.
The set by scenic Designer Casey Price looks like it was taken right out of the pages of Kinney’s illustrations, including lockers that look like they were drawn by hand. The very catchy musical is carried on the shoulders of its young stars. There are two casts – the Cheese Cast and the Middle Cast – and this reviewer was delighted by the talents of the Cheese Cast.
Greg, played by Ryan Stepanski, has a strong and melodic voice, with the comedic chops to match. His partner in crime is his bestie, Rowley, played by a charming Gwen Madison. These two young stars are actors to watch.
right), and cast in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID THE MUSICAL. First Stage, 2024. Photo
by Paul Ruffolo.
While Greg is urgently seeking to improve his popularity through various schemes, Rowley is content to follow his own dreams, at the advice of his hero, a “Kidz Bop but cooler” singer named Joshie (who makes an appearance in one memorable dance number, played by William Swoboda, who also plays the very sullen Rodrick). That tension of Greg wanting so badly to be popular and Rowley so cluelessly derailing Greg’s plans drives much of the plot.
Greg’s waxing and waning in popularity is cleverly illustrated by the holding up of binders and books that have numbers on the back, indicating the status of each schoolmate, and ultimately, after a showdown with bullies and a piece of stinky cheese on the playground, Greg learns a valuable life lesson about the value of friendship.
Anyone who’s ever been in middle school or is in middle school or would soon be in middle school would be entertained by First Stage’s adept adaptation.
