Photo by Joan Marcus
As we head towards Christmas, many of us will be fortunate enough to be able to spend the holidays with our families. Nowadays these families come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes we are related by blood, sometimes we surround ourselves with extended family we have chosen over the years. Non-traditional families have also become less and less taboo as social stigmas have broken down in some parts of the world over the last decades. One of these non-traditional families is at the heart of perhaps the most touching musical Broadway currently has to offer. It's time for James Lapine and William Finn's Falsettos to take its rightful place as our #ShowOfTheWeek!
For those who don't know, Falsettos is the amalgamation of two one-act off-Broadway musicals -'March of the Falsettos' (1981) and 'Falsettoland' (1990) - which premiered on Broadway at the Golden Theatre on April 29, 1992, winning its creators Tony Awards for "Best Book of a Musical" and "Best Original Score." Its themes are both universal and period. Having debuted in the wake of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s into the early 90s, it certainly must have packed an artistically heartbreaking punch during its first Broadway run. This revival, once again directed by Lapine, looks back at that era at a distance, but feels equally accessible and poignant. The benefit of this, is that the musical's other themes come to the forefront. What is family? What is love? We all strive to attain love but how do we actually go about becoming loved?
Maturity and accepting the responsibilities of adulthood are also key themes, as the title itself suggests the male voice has not yet broken - or the b*lls haven't dropped yet - and it is stuck in the falsetto register. Each character goes on a simple enough journey to follow, and whilst the narrative is not totally unpredictable, the character depth explored through song is as deeply rich as you could hope for. The combination of Finn's personal and conversational lyrics and the fresh and accommodating interpretations by this high calibre cast is the main draw of this revival. Christian Borle gives a finely balanced performance as Marvin, who wants a tightly-knit family and... oh yes, his male lover on the side... Andrew Rannells plays this said lover, Whizzer, with rejuvenating charisma as he tries to find his place in the puzzle. Anthony Rosenthal depicts the complexities of Marvin's son Jason with a maturity way beyond his young years in a smashing Broadway debut. We see how a young mind reacts to and comes to terms with adult themes such as separation, sexuality and death. Psychiatrist Mendel, played by Brandon Uranowitz, is the perfect addition to explore the other characters' psyches and, of course, ironically ends up on the couch, pouring his heart out himself. The "lesbians next door" join the fray in the second act, bringing fresh air to the proceedings. Although written as stereotypes (Tracie Thoms as Charlotte, the masculine, working doctor, and Betsy Wolfe as Cordelia, who is the pretty one that stays at home and cooks), they evolve into a much more impactful part of the narrative as Charlotte becomes the messenger of doom and talks of "something terrible passed from man to man." In my opinion, this revival's show-stealing performance comes from Stephanie J. Block as Marvin's ex-wife Trina. She is the one audience members are likely to identify with (whether male or female) and we look at the male characters in the piece through her eyes. In particular, Block knocks her hysterically neurotic number "I'm Breaking Down" out of the park with such a force, I'd be surprised if a Tony nomination didn't follow.
Click HERE to read our interview with Stephanie J. Block.
So if you're feeling the love for your loved ones this festive season, I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit to this Lincoln Center Theater revival of a cult musical, which still tugs at the heartstrings and encourages you to hold your family and friends close to you and let them know how much you love them this Christmas.
Click here for tickets to Falsettos, which is booking through to January 8th, 2017 at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre.
Christian Borle, Anthony Rosenthal & Stephanie J. Block in Falsettos More Production PhotosOriginally published on