Groundhog Day--Day In And Day In Again

        By Joseph Cervelli

While the film “Groundhog Day” still remains a cult classic you can count me among those who never saw what was so enticing about it, despite an enjoyably deadpanned Bill  Murray as an arrogant weatherman. Yet, the musical at the August Wilson Theater is a complete joy thanks mostly to the incomparable Andy Karl who recently gave a superb performance in the short lived musical “Rocky.” A few days before opening night Karl tore his ACL but was determined to open the show. I attended that performance and was amazed at his dexterity, for his character Phil Connors never stops moving. Forget the Energizer Bunny for Karl makes him look like a tortoise. But there is more to the role than just movement. 

Connors is a supercilious weatherman who has to reluctantly go to Punxsutaweny, Pa, once a year to report on weather the groundhog has seen his shadow. His middle name could be conceit for he feels nothing but scorn for the chummy residents and for covering what he considers to be a continually dumb assignment. What happens is that throughout the show he is stuck in time for each morning he finds himself waking up in his hotel room and going through all the motions of meeting the townspeople and reporting on the weather.,  The townspeople are a bit of a wacky but loving group of people along with Connors’ producer (Barrett Doss) whom you know will eventually become his love interest. I wish that Rebecca Faulkenberry who plays Nancy, Connors’ one night stand, would have had more to do. She has a lovely number “Playing Nancy” which opens the second act. As time passes Connors comes to realize how much he himself as missed in life and finds solace in the peacefulness of a small town with the person he loves. 

Danny Rubin’s book and along with Tim Minchin’s lyrics are filled with sardonic wit (could have done without the song about having an enema)  although I found the music catchier  in Minchin’s score to “Matilda.”

Matthew Warchus (“Matilda”) runs the show on high octane and it will be hard to forget the  inimitable miniature car chase. 

Thanks also to the inventive (love those upside down miniature houses running atop the proscenium) set design by Rob Howell (“Matilda.”)

The show as fun filled as it is still would not work half as well without Karl who while bringing a cynicism to the role still makes Connors likable. And his ultimate transformation which takes place over a series of repeated scenes but all slightly different is believable in a surprisingly tender manner. Hey, he deserves an award for getting out of bed and changing into clothes a multitude of times wearing that heavy knee brace.

PHOTOS: JOAN MARCUS

Tickets for “Groundhog Day” are available at the August Wilson Theater 245 West 52nd Street or by calling 877.250.2929.