I went a few days ago and while I don't fully get the hype, I smiled a good deal and left happy.
Jasmine Amy Rogers is incredible as people have said, with charisma in spades, spot-on comic timing, and pipes. Her Tony nomination will be well-deserved. But I wish she had more to hang her hat on because I did not get a clear idea of who her Betty is, what she wants, or what she wants to “shout about,” and that's more the book's problem than Rogers'. Her Betty inspires other people to follow their dreams, but what’s her arc, really, and what’s her 11 o’clock number saying about her? Some clear motivation, however simple, would go a long way. There’s not much about the thin characters or plot to hold interest, and there isn't much in the way of stakes to keep you invested. Even if the stakes are silly, give audiences more to feel invested in.
I thought this was at its best when it leaned into zaniness and cartoonishness, so act two actually worked better for me. I started out excited to see the designs because Betty’s world seemed cleverly rendered, using projections wisely, but then the “real world” sets and costumes... Did not like those. Unappealing projections and odd costumes. It’s quite the bizarre vision of New York City (why are people dressed like they’re in La La Land dancing on the Times Square steps? What even is this jazz club? How do they have that view of the city from their brownstone?) and in the first act, the story's not wacky enough for that weirdness to feel right, nor is the design “out there” enough to seem like the design team seized a fun opportunity to to paint a cartoonish “reality” in the real world parts. It took me half the show to warm up to this, since the first act never lifted off for me. I don’t know what it was that flipped the switch, but I was more on board with it in the second act. I never came around to the design, but the “real world” came together better for me in the second act when the show becomes more cartoonish. The reporters? Genuinely funny. Society's general reaction to Betty after act one ends? Sure, why not. The bouncing ball? Really clever! As was the act two opener. I'd want the creatives to think more about why people like cartoons, let loose and get zanier with it when you’ve got cartoon characters from another dimension roaming NYC.
It's a bit all over the place but also: sure, why not, this is all fun. I liked how Stephen DeRosa was dialed up to an 11 most of the time and I got a kick out of Faith Prince, even if she was underused. Ainsley Mendham’s got a wonderful voice that blended great when he sang with Rogers, and the music is tuneful. I don’t remember any particular songs super well outside of Where I Wanna Be, but several got me tapping my toes and I’ll give it a listen when the album comes out. I almost wish they drew out both act finales a bit longer.
I wouldn’t recommend it out of hand to everyone, especially for full price, but if you want a pleasant night out and want to see an up-and-coming star there’ll be something in it for you. And Pudgy’s brilliant.
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
