The Band’s Visit--A Jewel of a Musical

By Joseph Cervelli

There is a lovely song from Liza Minelli’s first Broadway musical “Flora, The Red Menace” called “A Quiet Thing.” The lyrics speak about discovering that shining moment when all goes well. You don’t hear “exploding fireworks” or the “roaring of the crowd.” It is just basically a quiet moment in which you relish in the joy of what you have discovered.

Back in January I discovered that “quiet moment”  of joy in an off Broadway musical called   “The Band’s Visit” which has happily transferred to Broadway at the Barrymore Theatre.

The show is beautifully and carefully directed by David Cromer with a gorgeously evocative score (sounds even better the second time around) by David Yazbek (“The Full Monty” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.”) As tuneful as his music is what really works are his thoughtful lyrics which play such a substantial part in Itamar Moses’ sweetly funny and touching book.

Tony Shalhoub gracefully portrays Tewfiq who is a colonel and conductor of the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra who arrived from Egypt to the wrong Israeli town to play for the Arab Cultural Center. This mistake occurred  when one of the musicians the handsome lothario Haled (Ari’el Stachel) is more concerned with wooing the woman at the ticket counter with his usual opening line, “Do you know Chet Baker?” than  obtaining tickets to the correct Israeli city. 

They end up in the barren desert town of Bet Hatikva.  Right  at the start  you are introduced to the the townspeople singing “Waiting” which personifies their desire for some excitement to enter into their dull lives. And the musicians are just what they unknowingly need. 

The owner of the cafe is the beautiful Dina (a wonderfully glowing Katrina Lenk) who slowly develops an affection for Tewfiq who is recovering from his own personal tragedies. Dina’s husband has apparently run off and she loves a married man. She tells Tewfiq the first time she saw an Egyptian film and how seeing the actor Omar Sharif onscreen transported her from her mundane existence to a new world she will never visit in her actual life. Her rendition of the piercingly sublime “Omar Sharif” is sung flawlessly. Every lyric exemplifies exactly what this young woman feels. 

Two other musicians have dinner at a home of a local Israeli couple where they are welcomed warmly by the joyful husband Itzik (a delightful John Cariani) who later sings the radiant “Lullaby” to his newborn and father-in-law Avrum (Andrew Polk) who break into the rousing “The Beat of Your Heart” which symbolizes the connection all four men have despite their cultural and religious backgrounds. Only Itzik’s caustic wife Iris (Kristen Sieh) whose husband’s laid-back ways is upsetting to her finds little enjoyment with the two Egyptians until later in the show  in a very special moment. 

A  cheerful scene takes place in a roller rink when Haled coaches the introverted local young guy Papi (Etai Benson) in how to approach an equally shy young lady. 

Later in the play there is a splendid moment in which both Dina and Tewfiq  are sitting side by side in her apartment unsure of exactly what to say to each other despite their feelings of connection when Haled beautifully plays a few cords of “My Funny Valentine.” Close your eyes and you will think that the late great Chet Baker has taken to the stage. 

One of the locals who has almost no lines plays but makes an impact is simply known as the Telephone Guy (Adam Kantor) spends the entire play standing by a phone on the street waiting for a call from his sweetheart. He breaks into the eloquent “Answer Me” as he finally receives that call he has longed for. 

“The Band’s Visit” is a jewel of a small show with a heart of gold. The characters all show each other dignity and respect no matter what their backgrounds might be. It is heartbreaking that this kind of goodwill is not transported to what is going on in our current world. 

        Tickets are available at the Barrymore Theatre 243 West 47th Street or by calling 212.239.6200.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW MURPHY