Catch Me If You Can Review

[esparza 333]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 7:40pm

I was fortunate enough to be in Seattle in the final week of CMIFYC and I was very anxious to see it. So I went down to the beautiful 5th. Avenue Theatre and did not know what to expect. I had seen Kerry Butler the day before outside of the theatre and was very excited to see her and Aaron Tom and Norbert and the rest of the cast.

Now how do I describe the show. Fantastic. Does that mean it doesn't have a lot of problems that need to be addressed. No.

Now lets start with the score. I have always enjoyed Shaiman's and Wittman's work. As with Hairspray, They have written a very catchy score that can be stunningly poignant or unbelievably light hearted. I was very impressed with the diversity of the score. They had Rat Pack - esque songs like Fifty Checks and Butter Outta Cream both gorgeous melodies and great lyrics. There are soaring rock ballads like Fly Fly Away which blow the roof of the theatre. There are upbeat dance numbers like Live in Living Color and Don't Break the Rules that are showstoppers. And last there are talk in rhythm songs like Here I Am (To Save the Day) which showcase the actors brilliant speed. And finally there are fun and deliciously campy songs like Bury Me Beside the One I Love. This is the good now the bad. Some songs such as Goodbye ( though beautifully delivered Aaron Tveit) and Seven Wonders suffer from utterly cliched lyrics. Even some of the above songs have forced lyrics. Also some songs need more daring melodies ( My Favorite Time Of Year). My other problem with the score is that My Favorite Time of Year doesn't work as an Act 1 Ending. They need a big production number or a suspenseful chase or something. It ends to soft and doesn't provide any closure to TV Special Idea.

The book is great to start with. McNally crafts his way through Frank's story with wit and slickness. There are moments full of brilliant one liners and moments of poignance. The l show sometimes has you on the edge of your seat as Frank navigates through different identities and does it seamlessly. Here is how the entire show can keep you on the edge of your seat. They can shorten some scenes especially the FBI Scenes that sometimes fly off hilarity and some times fall cause of a slow moving scene. They can also shorten the scenes where Frank is having dinner with his father and when Hanratty and Abagnale Sr. are at the bar. This will improve the overall pace. Also develop the character of Brenda a lot more. She shows up for the first time in the second act and in the matter of two scenes or so she and Frank are Soul Mates? I don't think so. Give her an earlier entrance and more time to grow. Kerry also needs more material. One solo song and a scene or two is not enough. Give her more one liners and more dialogue. They also need to cut modern slang from the show.

Jack O' Brien' s direction was very good but he needs to improve the pace of the show and the entire idea of the TV Show Special needs to be tightened and worked on. His work with the sneakiness and under someone skin essence of the show worked well.

Jerry Mitchell's work didn't have much of an impression to me but one think he did well was the movements of different characters. Frank Jr. was more seamless while Hanratty is spazzy and unsophisticated. Don't Break the Rules and Live in Living Color were the best dancing numbers.

Aaron Tveit was nothing short of spectacular. His stunning voice amplified through the theatre and his charismatic presence. From the opening number til the end the audience was with him. His acting was wonderful and his chemistry with Butz and Wopat was phenomenal. He shined in Live in Living Color, Butter Outta Cream and Goodbye. He was slick and cool throughout and seamlessly dealt with all emotions.It really i a star making performance.

Norbert Leo Butz was brilliant. His Don't Break the Rule and Here I Am (to Save the Day) ( where we Sang Rex Harrison Style) were both showstoppers. He was hilarious with physical comedy and Michael Jeter-esque dancing. He created a sort of gruffness in his voice and in addition to his showstopping numbers he sang the poignant Man Inside the clues. A tony worthy performance.

Tom Wopat was charismatic, charming and his Sinatra style voice gave chills. He sang jazzy numbers Fifty Checks, Little Boy Be a Man, and Butter Outta cream suave sophistication. In addition to this he portrayed a flawed father trying to get his life together wonderfully and create a beautiful bond with Tveit on stage.

Kerry Butler is an interesting story. Like I said before her character needs serious developing and work done. But with what she had boy did she deliver. Her song Fly Fly Away was one of the most thrilling moments of theatre you can imagine. Her gorgeous voice soared through the rafters and her voice was full of passion and emotion. She had the best song in the show. And besides that her one liners were hilarious including her braces conversation. If her character gets more time to grow in the show and is further developed she could very well turn in a scene stealing performance that gets her major recognition.

Rachel de Benedet was good as Frank's mother and Felicia Finley was giving her all as the prostitute Cheryl Ann. Nick Wyman and Linda Hart were hilarious as Brenda's parents and had the hysterical sing along Bury Me With the One I Love.

Bob Mackie's costumers were colorful and captured the essence of the era very well. While many did not like David Rockwell's set I thought the projections worked. It moved well with the show and provided color and motion that helped with the TV Special idea. I do however hope they make at least one scene all 3 Dimensional. The black box thing that shaped over the video screen went with the chicness of the show. Kenneth Posner's light was most impressive toward the end during Goodbye.

The show is a fantastic show and has potential to be brilliant. They have to iron out the kinks and develop the show. It has extraordinary potential. I have a great feeling that they will fix these many little things. I trust this Creative Team A lot.

[sondhead]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 7:44pm

I liked it as well. It needs major work, but what world premiere doesn't? All things considered, I think it's in phenomenal shape and has no excuse to not be terrific by the time it rolls into New York.

I also think the TV show thing needs to be tightened, especially because the way they did the ending.. I guess that could work for TV but it read purely theatrical to me, and mixed concepts are not usually the best. Actually, the ending in general is probably the worst part, but I'm sure they'll figure out how to fix it in time.
Updated On: 8/16/09 at 07:44 PM

[steven22]

Posted: 8/16/09 at 9:44pm

I really hope this ends up on broadway in the near future