The Roommate

 The Roommate
The Booth Theatre
October 12, 2024 

Photo courtesy of The Roommate

Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone are delightful in Jen Silverman’s play, The Roommate.  Their characters are complete opposites, and their energies bounce off one another brilliantly.  Director Jack O’Brien builds on the suspense in Ms. Silverman’s writing, allowing each moment to take the audience by surprise.

Sharon (played by Mia Farrow) is anxious to get to know her new roommate, Robyn (played by Patti LuPone), who drove for two days to get from the Bronx to Iowa City.  Sharon is an open book, telling Robyn all about her reading group and her son, who lives in Park Slope.  Robyn is a little more reserved, but does tell Sharon that she is a vegan and a lesbian.  The more Sharon pries, the more Robyn pulls away.  When Robyn reveals she has a daughter, Sharon feels they can share the challenges and disappointments of motherhood.  Sharon discovers something among Robyn’s belongings that concerns her.  She addresses it directly, only to be more intrigued when Robyn tells her the truth.  The life that Robyn has been running from is just the excitement Sharon craves. 

Patti LuPone & Mia Farrow
Photo courtesy of The Roommate

The transformation both characters undergo during their journey together is tangible.  Their bond gradually develops.  Sharon continually backs away, while Robyn’s aggressions and charms lure her in.  Ms. Farrow and Ms. LuPone play this game of cat and mouse beautifully.  Ms. Farrow varies her tactics, and Ms. LuPone avoids and defends.  Ms. Farrow’s persistence is sometimes tender and sometimes manipulative.  Ms. LuPone’s responses are often direct.  When that doesn’t work, she shuts down and leaves the room.  This back and forth is genuine and continuous, propelling the action at a brisk and natural pace.  When the table turns and Sharon takes control, Ms. Farrow blossoms with excitement, causing trepidation in Robyn.  Ms. LuPone plays this shift with sincerity, giving Sharon the closure she needs, while also allowing her to continue to discover herself. 

Don’t miss these two superstars in this excellent play!  The Roommate is playing at the Booth Theatre through December 15. 

Domenick Danza

Shucked

 Shucked
Nederlander Theatre
April 7, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Shucked

Shucked, the new Broadway musical with book by Robert Horn and music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, is wonderfully full of surprises.  It is a musical with an original story, not based on previous source material.  This is something we rarely see on Broadway.  The story builds and develops in ways that you won’t expect.  It is about the healing powers of love wrapped in knee slapping corn husks.  It is crony and heartwarming, boisterous and tender, raunchy and virtuous.  It is truly unique, and just what we need right now.  

The townspeople of Corn County are preparing for a wedding.  Maizy (played by Caroline Innerbichler) is about to wed her life-long love and best friend, Beau (played by Andrew Durand), when a tragic occurrence stops them.  The corn crop, which surrounds and protects the town, begins to wither and die.  The town relies on the corn for survival.  Maizy steps up and decides to leave and get help.  Her cousin Lulu (played by Alex Newell) tries to talk her out of it.  No one has ever left Corn County before.  Beau orders her to stay.  Maizy defies him and ends up in Tampa, where she meets Gordy (played by John Behlmann), a shyster Podiatrist who calls himself “The Corn Doctor.”  Gordy finds out that the stones in the bracelet Maizy is wearing are valuable gems.  Maizy’s Grandpa (played by Dwayne Clark) made it for her from the stones under their house.  Gordy sees this as an opportunity to pay off his loan shark, so he manipulates Maizy to take him back to Corn County.  Gordy promises to solve the corn problem in order to steal the stones.  Luckily, not all the townsfolk are as trusting as Maizy. 

Caroline Innerbichler (center) & the Cast of Shucked
Photo courtesy of Shucked

Caroline Innerbichler captures your heart as Maizy.  She is gullible and determined.  Andrew Durand is stubborn and vulnerable as Beau.  Together these two skilled actors create a genuine relationship that twists and turns in every scene.  They croon and swoon, then croon some more… and their crooning is out of this world. 

Alex Newell as Lulu
Photo curtesy of Shucked

Alex Newell rocks the house as Lulu.  She delivers every joke with a punch and a wink.  In Act I she brings the audience to their feet with her solo “Independently Owned.”  “Friends,” her duet with Ms. Innerbichler in Act II, is powerful and touching.  Her chemistry with John Behlmann (Gordy) is sizzling.  Lulu meets her match in this fast talking conman.  Their timing is spot on.   

Kevin Cahoon plays Beau’s brother, Peanut.  He delivers one corny pun after another.  They usually come in threes, and are followed by a dry take to the audience that extends the laughter even further.  His character defines the town and its inhabitants through his timing, rhythm, and simplicity. 

Photo courtesy of Shucked

Director Jack O’Brien finds the right, subtle tone and easy timing that allows Mr. Horn’s raucous writing to land as it needs.  You wait for the next joke, knowing it will be better than the one you just heard… and it always is.  Sarah O’Gleby’s choreography is sharp, energetic, and lively.  It sets the pace, encapsulates the setting, and keeps the show moving.

There are two kinds of stories to tell.  The first is when a stranger comes to town, and the second is when a character leaves home.  Shucked combines both.  A character leaves home and brings a stranger back to town, who upsets the norm in order to find what everyone was needing all along.  Go see this show! 

Domenick Danza

Carousel

Carousel

Imperial Theatre

July 5, 2018

Photo courtesy of Carousel

The Broadway revival of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Carousel is beautifully done.  The choreography is brilliant.  The set design by Santo Loquasto pulls you into a different time and place and blends the harsh realities in the story with the profound spiritual tale that raises the stakes.  The stellar cast creates genuine moments in the sweeping pace the show requires.  The ending is magic and true, emotional and mystical. 

Julie Jordan (played by Jessie Mueller) goes to the carousel with her best friend Carrie Pipperidge (played by Lindsay Mendez).  She catches the attentions of Billy Bigelow, the carousel barker (played by Joshua Henry).  They are magnetically drawn to one another.  Over time their relationship develops both tenderly and aggressively.  When Julie tells Billy she is going to have a baby, he realizes he needs to step up as a provider.  He joins his friend Jigger (played by Amar Ramasar) in a plan to rob a local businessman.  The robbery goes awry and, unable to face Julie, Billy kills himself.  He holds onto his aggressive demeanor in his meeting with The Starkeeper (played by John Douglas Thompson) at the pearly gates.  He is offered one visit to earth where he has a chance to redeem himself by helping his daughter, Louise (played by Brittany Pollack), who, at fifteen years old, is full of anger and resentment.

Jessie Mueller & Joshua Henry
Photo courtesy of Carousel

What stands out in this revival is how the first act is superbly structured.  Richard Rogers skillfully layers his music throughout the three scenes, while Oscar Hammerstein’s lyrics simply and succinctly tell the story in fluently sung dialogue.  Amid this musical synchronicity, Richard Rogers’ music unexpectedly swells into a theme that draws you deeper into the emotional life of the characters.  Joshua Henry, Jessie Mueller, and Lindsay Mendez exuberantly dive into these sections.  Their voices ring magnificently, creating truthful moments that draw you into the yearnings of their characters. 

Lindsay Mendez
Photo courtesy of Carousel

The ballet in the second act, where we meet Louise, is choreographer Justin Peck’s finest storytelling.  Louise’s character is clearly revealed through gesture, timing, and variations in her physical tension.  Brittany Pollack takes hold of all of these nuances and transports them into her scenes that follow the ballet. 

Photo courtesy of Carousel

Director Jack O’Brien focuses on the inner life of the characters in this production.  The story is in their personal conflicts.  His meticulous casting in these roles allows for the underlying desires of the characters to push the action of the play forward.  The ending makes sense on an emotional level, which is clear and intensely felt through Richard Rogers score.

Domenick Danza