| James Lapine and
William Finn's 1992 Tony Award-winning show, a bittersweet comedy with an AIDS theme, is
stylishly directed by M. Michele Phillips. It is a nonstop songfest vividly presented by a
fine cast expertly capturing the light,airy, yet often sad tone of the score. Musically, "Falsettos" is very much in the current Broadway idiom,
owing a lot to the work of Stephen Sondheim - evident in such numbers as "March of
the Falsettos" -- but also in the general contrapuntal nature of many numbers
("Please Come to My House" is sheer delight).
The show is very New York. All seven characters are
Jewish and the bar mitzvah of a l4 year-old is a principal event in the second act. The
Manhattan air carries into the music and general philosophizing of the story line.
Marvin, the boy's father, has an on again, off-again
relationship with Whizzer, an athletic character who is fond of racquetball, necessitating
Marvin's divorce from Trina. Both Trina and Marvin frequent the same psychiatrist, Mendel,
who falls in love with Trina and woos her. Jason, the l4 year-old, is caught in the middle
of all this.
"Falsettos," despite its themes, is never
heavy-handed. There is a brittle, ironic mood throughout - a kind of yearning for a better
world, or perhaps a better humanity within of which the characters are not quite capable,
despite good intentions.
"Falsettos" has a few naughty words, but it
gets through its serious moments (when one of the men comes down with AIDS) with no
ranting or political raving. It maintains a brave air of sophistication.
The singing and acting are impressive- and this in a
show with no less than 42 songs.
Michael Simson brings great skill and sensitiity to
the part of Marvin and sings the long score like a trooper. Kathy Kautz is marvelous as
Trina, with a strong, soaring voice and a delightful sense of character.
Another strong performer is John Alec Zuerlein as
Mendel, the psychiatrist. Light on his feet, with a pleasant voice and more than a little
dash, he is a standout. Also no slouch is Jason Booth as Whizzer, who has rnany fine
musical moments.
Really impressive is sixth-grader Mitchell Raftery,
whose voice is pure as a bell and equally strong in a strenuous singing role.
In all the numbers, this ensemble maintains impressive
harmony and energy in this fresh, slice-of-life musical. The gay-themed material might not
appeal to all, but the show has verve, chuckles, fun choreography and a fine little
orchestra led by pianist Kurt Kelley. |
