Ever been in a room with a couple hundred teenage girls screaming at the top of their lungs? That's what tonight's performance of NEWSIES was like. The little ladies were respectful during the book scenes, but during the many showstopping musical numbers, you would have thought Justin Bieber himself had just come onto the stage of the Nederlander Theatre. NEWSIES is based on the cult classic Disney flop of the same name. It makes it's way to the musical stage pretty seamlessly, thanks to a terrific book from Harvey Fierstein. Alan Menken and Jack Feldman have written some additional material to flesh out the score, and Christopher Gattelli has choreographed some fantastic yet exhausting dance numbers. Several of the extended dance sequences are truly impressive and worthy of the phrase "showstopper". Jeremy Jordan, who impressed me so much in BONNIE AND CLYDE last fall, plays the leader of the Newsies, Jack. Jordan is truly a star in the making. Besides having matinee idol looks, he is a winning actor with a dynamite voice. He leads a splendid cast. It's truly Jordan and the young men who play the Newsies that walk away with the show and make it sour. Not only are they fabulous hoofers, but the singing is also top notch. These boys put out quite a winning sound! It's a pleasant enjoyable evening, however I feel the same way about the stage musical as I did about the film musical. It's just not a compelling story. I don't find the Newsboys Strike of 1899 a particularly captivating plot. They have added a few characters, including a love interest for Jack, but it just feels like filler. But just about the time my mind started to wander, one of those Menken tunes started and the real reason we all bought our tickets happens. NEWSIES is absolutely a crowd pleaser and proves another home run for Disney Theatrical.
No comments:
Post a Comment