#1
Posted: 10/24/09 at 1:47am
Prior to the announcement of this production moving to Broadway, I had next to no idea what this show was truly about. I read the show's Wikipedia page and was really still not sure how exactly that plot would transfer into a show, but I was willing to give it a go.
I'm so extremely glad that I did.
Finian's Rainbow is a classic Broadway musical with a capital C and it truly has such a genuine feel of a classic musical and that's truly part of it's appeal.
The plot is dated here and there, but there are still several themes about greed/money and racism that still exist even today. Living in a country where we just elected an African American president, it's not hard to imagine that some of those good old boys in the South don't act just like the slimy and bigoted Senator Rawkins.
The cast is down right superb and really give one-hundred and ten percent with each song, dance move, and scene. The ensemble dancing was fantastic and the ensemble as a whole was very strong, one of the strongest I've seen in awhile.
As for the leads:
Jim Norton is enchanting as the always dreaming big title character. His want to help his daughter settle down and give her all he can is truly heartwarming and his comedic scenes are fantastic. He's endearing, a bit stubborn and just fantastic.
Kate Baldwin's voice is so gorgeous that she could sing the phone book and I'd be completely enchanted by it. With each song, step or line, Kate completely enchanted the audience with her comedic-ways as well as her endearing charm. Truly the spitting image of an Irish lass, Baldwin and Norton made a perfect father/daughter team and played off one another brilliantly.
Cheyenne Jackson is a star. The man oozes charisma and charm with a single smile and his singing voice is perfect for the gorgeously lush score, especially "Old Devil Moon", his signature song. Jackson and Baldwin's chemistry is pitch-perfect and their voices blending is just heavenly.
Christopher Fitzgerald is adorable and a huge scene stealer as Og the Leprechaun. His voice is gorgeous and soaring, and I'm so glad that I get to see him finally use it (I've only previously seen him in Wicked). His comedic timing was pitch-perfect and he just was beyond adorable, neurotic and fun!
Chuck Cooper as the enchanted form of Senator Rawkins has a powerful voice and really rocked "The Begat" number to it's core. Cooper and Terri White, as Dottie, truly work their fairly small roles with huge voices that make use of their time on stage.
The dancing in this production is top-notch, especially the ballet done by Alina Faye as Susan The Silent. Each number burst with energy and joy that truly did the classic show justice.
I know many people have said they weren't too fond of Finian's Rainbow, but I truly think this classic tale of dreams and a little bit of magic is just what Broadway could use right now. I suggest that you follow the rainbow over to the St. James and see the beautiful colors of Finian's Rainbow.
I'm so extremely glad that I did.
Finian's Rainbow is a classic Broadway musical with a capital C and it truly has such a genuine feel of a classic musical and that's truly part of it's appeal.
The plot is dated here and there, but there are still several themes about greed/money and racism that still exist even today. Living in a country where we just elected an African American president, it's not hard to imagine that some of those good old boys in the South don't act just like the slimy and bigoted Senator Rawkins.
The cast is down right superb and really give one-hundred and ten percent with each song, dance move, and scene. The ensemble dancing was fantastic and the ensemble as a whole was very strong, one of the strongest I've seen in awhile.
As for the leads:
Jim Norton is enchanting as the always dreaming big title character. His want to help his daughter settle down and give her all he can is truly heartwarming and his comedic scenes are fantastic. He's endearing, a bit stubborn and just fantastic.
Kate Baldwin's voice is so gorgeous that she could sing the phone book and I'd be completely enchanted by it. With each song, step or line, Kate completely enchanted the audience with her comedic-ways as well as her endearing charm. Truly the spitting image of an Irish lass, Baldwin and Norton made a perfect father/daughter team and played off one another brilliantly.
Cheyenne Jackson is a star. The man oozes charisma and charm with a single smile and his singing voice is perfect for the gorgeously lush score, especially "Old Devil Moon", his signature song. Jackson and Baldwin's chemistry is pitch-perfect and their voices blending is just heavenly.
Christopher Fitzgerald is adorable and a huge scene stealer as Og the Leprechaun. His voice is gorgeous and soaring, and I'm so glad that I get to see him finally use it (I've only previously seen him in Wicked). His comedic timing was pitch-perfect and he just was beyond adorable, neurotic and fun!
Chuck Cooper as the enchanted form of Senator Rawkins has a powerful voice and really rocked "The Begat" number to it's core. Cooper and Terri White, as Dottie, truly work their fairly small roles with huge voices that make use of their time on stage.
The dancing in this production is top-notch, especially the ballet done by Alina Faye as Susan The Silent. Each number burst with energy and joy that truly did the classic show justice.
I know many people have said they weren't too fond of Finian's Rainbow, but I truly think this classic tale of dreams and a little bit of magic is just what Broadway could use right now. I suggest that you follow the rainbow over to the St. James and see the beautiful colors of Finian's Rainbow.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 10/24/09 at 01:47 AM
