The talented folks at Buntport Theater have set their sights on musical theatre, creating their first all-original musical (their now legendary musical version of Titus Andronicus was based on Shakespeare, after all). They have taken the U.S. Postal Service as their “central metaphor for interconnectedness,” and built Seal. Stamp. Send. Bang. The result is a fun, funny, clever, unpredictable, and entertaining musical.

Seal. Stamp. Send. Bang. is the story of how the lives of eight characters intertwine. Several of them work for the Postal Service, and the mail plays a pivotal role in most of the surprising twists and turns the story takes. While there is a plot, this production is more about characters and relationships than storyline. Each new revealed connection between characters completes a piece of the story, until everything comes together by the end.

The script is what we expect from Buntport – an interesting story with diverse and well-developed characters that create unexpected situations and outcomes. Adam Stone has injected clever lyrics and synth-pop music that fit the story and the characters singing them well. The funniest number involves a singing and dancing package.

The production is well directed, though as with everything Buntport, direction is a collaborative effort. The timing is tight, perfect for quick comedy, and the constant details and small creative bursts seem limitless. The songs are integrated into the action on stage well, without any pretentious buildup or false theatricality.

Erin Rollman anchors the show as Susan, a cheerful, exuberant, optimistic mail carrier. The unlikely corner of a love triangle based on misunderstandings, she is happily oblivious to much of what goes on around her. Jason, played by Erik Edborg, is compulsive and voyeuristic as he deals with “dead letters” that can’t be delivered. Edborg captures the essence of someone trapped inside an office, constantly looking at other people’s mail, but officially only enough to get a delivery address. Brian Colonna is Richard, the sadistic yet mousy security enforcer, always looking to catch someone doing something wrong. Daphne, played psychotically by Hannah Duggan, is a woman on the edge. She is seething with anger, but the expression of that anger is annoying and, well, just weird – but hilariously so. Rounding out things on stage is Evan Weissman, playing all the other roles needed. As Ethan, he is sheepish and infatuated, but unable to express his love directly. But he transforms himself completely into several other characters as well.

The set is modular and integrated well into the show, with several different homes transforming into offices, interiors, or mail trucks when needed. The lighting is clever, much more of an element than in past Buntport shows. I particularly liked the creative follow spot use, run deftly from the booth by SamAnTha Schmitz. The costumes were appropriate, with each helping to reinforce the character wearing it. This show also called for a higher level of sound integration, which worked well for the most part. The transition in mid-song from full reinforcement to a simulated Walkman sound was very clever.

Seal. Stamp. Send. Bang. is just plain fun. The music is interesting and enjoyable, the choreography is silly and a wonderful parody of musical theatre, and the hilarious story twists will catch you off guard. The play is about interconnections and misconnections, and while there may not be as much depth or insight as in recent Buntport offerings, that doesn’t matter. This show is about fun, comedy, and entertainment, and it hits that target squarely on the bulls-eye.

—Craig Williamson, March 19, 2009, North Denver Tribune