Best of the First Half of the New Season
By Joseph Cervelli
Here are shows in no particular order that I felt merit the best for the first half of the new theater season. There seemed to be more shows during this first half than I recall but nothing like what will be turning up in March and April. By then every Broadway theater should have a show. And let's not even get to the off Broadway deluge. So, before that occurs, let me take a deep breath and here are those I felt were the best I have seen from May through December.
"Gypsy"
For those that thought Audra McDonald's soprano voice would not fit the score of my personal favorite musical "Gypsy" think again. She combines soprano with belting. And the result is pure bliss. We are so overwhelmed with her heavenly voice that it is easy to forget what a truly fine actress she is. I shall never tire of "Rose's Turn" the penultimate 11 o'clock number, and her rendition was stunning beyond all measure. I did have some issues with George C. Wolfe's streamlined version and as much as I like Joy Woods I was disappointed with her portrayal of Louise. Yet, the moment that overture begins I was in pure delight.
"Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical"
While "A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical" has a disappointing book with too much of an emphasis on his five wives it is vastly entertaining thanks to the music, the actors who portray his wives and the superb James Monroe Iglehart in the starring role. A big minus was not having a character play the one and only Ella Fitzgerald with whom Armstrong made some beautiful music together.
"Swept Away"
The first half of "Swept Away" was a pulsating musical with a dynamic cast and excellent score. The shipwreck was one of the most ingenius production numbers I have seen in a long time. But then the second half becomes a bit stagnant with the survivors of the sinking of their ship on a lifeboat. Not a lot you can do in a lifeboat to make the musical that interesting despite the fine performances of five of the actors. Even resulting to cannabilism does not perk your interest that much. Still, it did deserve to have a longer life instead of closing recently.
"Death Becomes Her"
This new musical might be vulgar and crass but there is no doubt it is also hysterically funny. Based on the fairly entertaining film both Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard are wildly over the top and it works in every way. Also, don't want to forget the terrific Christopher Sieber who really shines in "The Plan" what seemed like an underappreciated number by the audience I attended with. The sets and scenery were both glorious to look at. True, the score was not top notch, but it worked for the show.
"Maybe Happy Ending"
Out of nowhere comes a charming little show with a wonderful Darren Criss as an outdated robot. The music is pleasant and the sets are quite remarkable. I was not as enthralled as others were with the show, but it still is worth seeing for Criss and his co-robot Helen J. Shen.
"Another Shot"
A show which should have played much longer is "Another Shot" about addiction recovery. Some found it predictable which in a way it was, but the performances and sincerity in this show made it definitely worth seeing. One of the top shows of the season, thus far.
"Romeo and Juliet"
This Gen Z version "Romeo & Juliet" is a fun romp before it turns serious. Sam Gold has directed with great creativity and while I was disappointed in a good but not memorable Rachel Zegler as Juliet; Kit Connor makes a perfect Romeo.
"Hold On To Me Darling"
Adam Driver gives an amazing performance as a country music star who returns back home for his mother's funeral in a thrilling revival of Kenneth Lonergan's "Hold On to Me Darling." Running about three hours I found it all blended together. Not one false move in this show.
"Our Town"
If you have not yet caught the superbly moving revival of "Our Town" before it closes may I suggest you go at once. Kenny Leon has directed the show with such sentimental beauty and Jim Parsons is the most humorous Stage Manager of any previous production I have seen. A classic story about remembering the little things in our life could not be more appropriate in the current world we live in.
"Fatherland"
"Fatherland"was a knockout of a show based on court transcripts and taped dialogue dealing with an ultra right wing instigator who supported the attack on the Capitol on January 6. Turned in to the authorities by his son, there is not one moment that was not gripping. And Ron Bottitta gives a performance for the ages.
"Hills of California"
"Hills of California" is an unforgettable journey about four sisters who reunite in England for their dying mother. So much is going on that it is almost impossible to condense what is happening here other than the daughters are unique in their own way. Laura Donnelly gives an award winning performance portraying the mother and daughter who moved to America.
"Someone Spectacular"
Here is an unusual play about a grief counseling center where the participants are not exactly getting along all that well with each other. So, what is going to happen when the counselor does not show up. It is an intriguing work and beautifully acted with quite a special ending.
"Still"
Still" was one of the first shows I saw this season and a special play with two very remarkable performances Jayne Atkinson and Tim Daly as a couple who broke up about 30 years ago and meet again at a hotel bar. The only issue was an ending that left you hanging or does it?
"Once Upon a Mattress"
The best revival I have seen of "Once Upon a Mattress" which was at City Center has made it to Broadway. Sutton Foster is a complete joy as swamp Princess Winnifred who is a candidate to marry Prince Dauntless (a wonderful Michael Urie). Unbeknownst to her, his mother sabotages each candidate. It is just pure fun.
HONORABLE MENTION
Mia Farrow was the saving grace in the not very good "The Roommate" which so much just did not make a lot of sense. I am not into watching drag shows but heard good things about "Drag The Musical" and it was lots of fun. Runs too long and despite predictability a very enjoyable cast and tuneful score with some clever lyrics. While "A Guide For the Homesick" was a choppy play that had no real central focus the two leads McKinley Belcher III and Uly Schlesinger were excellent--especially Belcher III. While "The Beacon" had a number of issues not quite believable it boasted an award caliber performance by Kate Mulgrew. "Table 17" was entertaining if not totally successful though the two highlights were Michael Rishawn hilariously playing three roles and a very sweetly seductive performance by the always winning Kara Young. "N/A" was a not very exciting play with the two characters basically portraying Nancy Pelosi (Holland Taylor) and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (Ana Villafane.) Taylor is always a pleasure to see on stage and Villafane gave a breakout performance as Ocasio-Cortez. She looked and acted like the U.S. Representative from New York. Tory Kittles gave a standout as a Vietnam objector from the south who meets more problems as a Black man moving up further north to North Carolina. I had some issues with the play but not the performances most especially Kittles.
PHOTOS:
1) Julieta Cervantes
2) Jeremy Daniel
3) Emilio Madrid
4) Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
5) Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
6) Joan Marcus
7) Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
8) Julieta Cervantes
9) Daniel Rader
10) Maria Baranova
11) Joan Marcus
12) Julieta Cervantes
13) Joey Moro
14) Joan Marcus
