Finian's Rainbow 1/10
Finian's Rainbow 1/10
#1Finian's Rainbow 1/10
Posted: 1/12/10 at 10:35am
So, I went to Finian's Rainbow yesterday to catch it before it closes because I enjoyed the production so much at Encores! and wanted to see the show with Christopher Fitzgerald and one of my favorite musical actors, Chuck Cooper. Well, in my humble opinion this revival of Finian's Rainbow is the best musical production that has opened this year (with the possible exception of Fela!).
I have always been a fan of old fashioned musical comedies and Finian's has been a favorite of mine since childhood. Warren Carlyle has lovingly staged a beautiful production and although it has a few flaws (unoriginality/repetitiveness of choreography for some of the big company numbers and cheap looking sets), the energized ensemble more than makes up for it.
The true revelation in this production is Kate Baldwin as Sharon. I grew up listening to Ella Logan on the OBCR of Finian's and although Baldwin may not posses the full-throttle emotional belt that Ms. Logan had, she easily manipulates every song to fit her vocal range and packs an emotional wallop to boot. Her performance is so good that it seems as if the role was written for her. Not to mention her wonderful chemistry with all of her leading men (Fitzgerald, Jackson and Norton).
As for the additions to the cast from the Encores! show, Christopher Fitzgerald really shines in the role of Og, the leprechaun, he is a well seasoned physical comedian and brings a great silliness to his musical numbers. At Encores!, Terri White's "Necessity" was the show stopper and brought down the house, well on Broadway it seems that Mr. Coopers "The Begat" is the real show stopper. Before he performs that number he does his own soulful version of "The Great Come and Get it Day" which had the audience applauding throughout. "The Begat" also featured Mr. Carlyle's best musical staging in the show.
Cheyenne Jackson, while great at Encores!, is in my mind the only weak link in the cast. While he has great stage presence, I think he is incapable of giving a classic "leading man" performance in a golden age musical (as witnessed in Damn Yankees also). He has a modern sensibility that gets in the way I think. And although his singing was full and rich at Encores!, on Sunday I felt it was surprisingly weak.
The heart of the production is probably Jim Norton's performance as Finian. He is just brilliant and is a delight to watch nimbly play with his fellow actors.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this production and think this is one of the better musical revivals in recent history. It is a shame if it actually closes on the 17th and does not reopen. I wish everyone involved the best of luck!
#2Finian's Rainbow 1/10
Posted: 1/12/10 at 10:49am
I was there on Sunday, too! I pretty much agree with your entire review, although I'd add that Alina Faye's Dance of the Golden Crock is one of the show's highlights for me. I don't know if I think it's the best or most original choreography I've ever seen, but it's just such a unique number, both in the show and in the wider scope of musical theatre. I don't think you'll ever see a ballet accompanied by a harmonica again. (and, in fairness, that number's equivalent in the movie is also a favorite of mine)
Since you're so familiar with the show, did you ever feel like you found things funnier than the rest of the audience did? I was talking about that with my mother (who I was at the show with on Sunday), that there were more than a few times in the show where I was laughing and felt like no one else was.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Updated On: 1/12/10 at 10:49 AM
#2Finian's Rainbow 1/10
Posted: 1/12/10 at 10:57am
"Well, in my humble opinion this revival of Finian's Rainbow is the best musical production that has opened this year (with the possible exception of Fela"
I think Finian's might have been the best musical production of the year, but Fela! is far from it.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
#3Finian's Rainbow 1/10
Posted: 1/12/10 at 10:41pm
givesmevoice, You're right on both accounts. Alina Faye is a very pretty dancer and yes I felt that the audience was very responsive to the musical numbers, but less so for some of the book scenes.
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