Review: 'Jerry and Joe: Birth of the Superhero' Soars,

"Jerry and Joe: Birth of the Superhero" is a superhero origin story – with a difference: This time it's about the creation of Superman as a crime-fighting comic book phenom. The legendary character was the product of two Cleveland teenagers, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Siegel and Shuster, both Jewish, grew up as outcasts in the 1930s. After experiencing anti-semitism, the pair bonded over their shared love of science fiction movies and stories. Jerry was a writer and Joe was an illustrator. Together, they are responsible for a beloved cultural icon who endures more than 85 years after his "birth."

"Jerry and Joe" features the lead characters sharing their story with a tenacious female reporter (terrifically played by Julian Trilling). Siegel and Shuster endure financial difficulties, creative differences, and failed romances as they follow their dreams.

The two lead performers, David O. Weber as Jerry, and Derek Laurendeau as Joe, are tremendously likable and charismatic. Weber has a twinkle in the eye as Jerry proposes various characters for stories, while Laurendeau has a charming sense of vulnerability due to Joe's failing eyesight and his lack of success with the opposite sex.

"Jerry and Joe" is a must-see for fans of Superman, as well as anyone fascinated by the creative process of writers and artists, as the play offers insights into the character's creation. Superman's alter ego, the mild-mannered Clark Kent, was needed to provide a disguise for the stranger from the planet Krypton. Lois Lane, Clark's fellow reporter at the Daily Planet, was inspired by a woman Jerry had a crush on.