ere are six we've recently seen along with our capsule reviews:
Aladdin: No, it’s not just for kids. It’s actually something the whole family can enjoy. And audiences prove it as the show has been running for more than 10 years. We enjoyed it with our grandkids and everyone had a great time. Yes. there are some slow parts but, overall the production is a dazzler with ample displays of the magic of Broadway and great tunes like Proud of Your Boy, Arabian Nights, Friend Like Me, A Whole New World and Prince Ali. Several of these have become classics.
Back To The Future: The show will close soon but it’s had a very healthy 18-month Broadway run and contains the zippiest special effects on Broadway right now. The cast is superb and the show is mostly faithful to the story line of the movie (with some updates). What’s more it’s funny and the cast has great fun with the whole tongue-in-cheek concept of the show. An excellent production. BTW: The show has already embarked on an extended North American tour!
Ragtime: The big, richly melodic City Center Encores production of this epic musical has just concluded a limited run which we were lucky enough to catch and all we can say is “WOW!” We saw the original production in 1998 and this faithful revival is nothing short of exuberant. This is no reinterpretation, folks. This is the real deal and one is likely never to see anything like it again: full orchestra, big cast, lush score, historic tale. We’re praying they’ll bring this revival to Broadway as soon as possible. Please!
Water For Elephants: Another fine musical that’s soon to close on Broadway but headed to a national tour likely to come to a town near year. And that makes sense because the whole show is about a traveling circus and, yes it’s based on the movie of the same name. As it’s set during the Great Depression, involves a group of grifters and misfits and deals with animal cruelty, it’s not exactly a cheerful story but the authentic circus acrobats who are part of the production are enthralling. Ditto, the inventive choreography and imaginative sets.
The Great Gatsby: Finally, Gatsby’s story has been faithfully brought to the stage in a mostly sung-through musical that is of operatic proportions. Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada and Noah Ricketts are superb in the primary roles. But Ricketts as Nick Carraway (the teller of the tale) is the real standout here. He totally inhabits the role. This is, as one reviewer described it “a great, big Broadway extravaganza.” The costumes (more than 300 of them designed by Linda Cho) justifiably garnered their own Tony award and the projected set design gives the production a whole new dimension. (Photo above)
Once Upon A Mattress: This is a limited run (must end November 30) revival of the 1959 musical loosely based on The Princess and the Pea. The show can only be described as a festival of silliness broadly played by a winning cast showcasing the bountiful comedic talents of the effervescent Sutton Foster. The show can be tedious at times but Foster, Michael Urie, Will Chase, Ana Gasteyer and the rest of the company keep things moving along at a brisk pace with lots of punchy one liners and old-fashioned mugging. It’s a jocular fairy tale, a cartoon and a fable all rolled into one. This crowd pleaser puts the comedy back into musical comedy!
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