*SPOILERS*
I loved the Seattle production. In fact, I saw it 3 times. The show was supposed to be presented like a TV special. "The Frank Abagnale Jr. Show" or something like that... including an onstage band and a sing-along session where you followed the bouncing ball. I felt that the "TV" concept was lost after the opening number. The set was very plain, aside from the wavy bandstand. A projected background was used in about every scene, and new set pieces of all shapes and sizes would be carted in to match.
Being familiar with the movie and book, it seemed that the musical never really showed you how/what Frank was doing to pull of his schemes. We knew he was passing bad checks and using fake IDs, but there were few explanations. When I first saw it in previews they had a scene where he bought a check machine and supplies. It was cut when I came back the next week. Maybe an entire song wasn't necessary, but I liked seeing what Frank was doing to pull off the scheme.
There were many mixed reviews about Kerry Butler's big ballad, "Fly, Fly Away". Yes, it was a wonderful song and even a highlight of the show. It was just placed in a weird spot... It's a high action sequence with Frank frantically getting his things together and confessing to Brenda while the FBI is pounding on the door. He jumps out the window right as the FBI breaks in. They start to question her and then she goes into her song. The placement feels like a huge break in the action because after that, the chase resumes and Framl sings another big song. He gets captured, they do an epilogue song, and then it's done.
Overall, it was a very fun show. The cast may have been worth it alone. Aaron Tveit was wonderful to look at and listen to, and Norbert Leo Butz brought great comedy to the character. Major props to him for pulling it off when his sister had been murdered just days before opening. It was also great to see some of my favorite local actors alongside the Broadway stars.
As far as I know, it had many more positive reviews than negative, though nearly all of them would say there was work to be done. There's probably a lost thread floating around somewhere with a lot more information, but I'll post some links to the local reviews.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2009618992_catchme08.html?cmpid=2628 http://seattlepostglobe.org/2009/08/09/catch-me-if-you-can-launches-a-solid-head-start http://www.examiner.com/fine-arts-in-seattle/catch-me-if-you-can-5th-avenue-theatre-review
