JUNO, The Invited Dress

Finally ENCORES did a show that they should do.
There is probably no other way we would get to see this show and hear this score with a fabulous cast, except in this venue.
The show is too strange and disjointed to ever get a revival, though I think there was one Off Broadway.

That said, Thank You ENCORES.
The cast is outstanding, Victoria Clark is as always, one of the best Actress/Singers of our time. Her take on the character and her singing are beyond reproach, see this just for her but there are many other reasons.
Ceila Keenan-Bolger is terific, she has such a wonderful voice and the control over the difficult score is a wonder to the ear..
Conrad John Shuck has the most difficult role and I found him delightful, some of his songs are the weird part of the score and he and Dermot Crowley had some difficulty with them, but Shuck has a better voice than I remember.
Michael Arden has one song and a reprise, but he proves once again that he is the real thing, An actor/singer who deserves a show. ( Jason Robert Brown, write something for this guy.)
Clarke Thorell is perfectly slimey as the villian, and Tyler Haines comes into a whole new light as an actor in this show, and yes he does dance, beautifully.
You may never hear such strange orchestrations anywhere else, but I loved them.
The direction and the choreography by Garry Hynes and Warren Carlye set a nice tone.
The bleak setting and costumes by John Lee Beaty and Toni Leslie-James also help a lot.
Is this a perfect musical, No, but certainly one worth a new look and limited run.
Bravo to all involved.

WOW, CurtainPullDowner, your opinion is almost completely-opposite from mine

REQUEST: Is anyone willing to provide me with an official Playbill if they attend this weekend? They were giving out paper ones today

FOREWORD: This was an invited dress, so of course, as it was a rehearsal, I will try to be fair. And anyone who knows me and my theatre-stylings, it takes a lot to truly disappoint me and I give things the benefit of the doubt. This production included. I mean, 30+ actors and a huge orchestra get 10 Equity days to put on a smash! Props for that!

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

First, I have no idea why City Center chose this production. Granted, the idea for Encores! is to present rarely seen or staged productions for the masses. To bring the treasures from the trunks, dust them off, and give them another shot.

But JUNO was frankly... boring. It's a good thing the Encores! season is so subscriber-based and these productions are so few and far-between. The house will be full every night. But people may leave at intermission (like many in the mezz did tonight).

THE GOOD:
Clarke Thorell (Charlie Bentham) and J. Maxwell Miller (Irish Tenor) are the male vocal stand-outs. Naturally, Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mary) and Victoria Clark (Juno) are the female stand-outs vocally.

Bolger and Clark share a magnificent folk-song lullaby in Act 2 ("Bird Upon a Tree") that slathers foreshadowing all over the stage.

Bolger's two (high soprano) solos were the best numbers in the show. The balls-out ensemble numbers were cool too (but I'm a sucker for big-sound)

The choreography during the dead-soldier/IRA ballet is stunning. It was wonderful to be transported as an audience-member back to the glory days of musical theatre with the emotional story-telling ballet in Act 2. In this, Tyler Hanes (Johnny) laments his guilt through a one-armed torturous nightmare.

The Gossips: Rosleen Linehan, Kay Walbye, Louis Flaningam and Jennifer Smith, are very funny. Kind of a reflection of the Church Ladies of 'The Color Purple.'

Speaking of reflections, I couldn't help thinking of 'The Drowsy Chaperone' during the gramaphone dance number when the record skips. And the VERY END reminded me of 'Assassins.'

I was most moved during the desperate motherly cries as to "Where was the Lord when my son was riddled with bullets?" Five year anniversary of Iraq hit me.

THE NOT SO GOOD:
I'm not going to say "bad." Specifically, I didn't know what was going on when people were talking in Act 1. And a part of me didn't want to take the effort to know. It may have been the Irish dialect (be warned, you have to listen carefully). It may have been the lack of conflict. It was just drab. Very drab.

Now I know a good song does not mean it has to be hummable! But nearly all the songs were... lost on me. The orchestrations were beautiful. A sound that is LONG GONE from today's theatre. I can respect beautiful music and folk music. And I respect Marc Blitzstein's score. But it took the "Entr'acte" to remind me what Act 1 had even sounded like.

Victoria Clark, a diva in her own right, is not a stand-out. Only because her role is so thin. A tired poor mother who loves her children and scorns her husband's drinking habits. Her songs were slightly-emotive but did not in the very least display her vocal talent and true acting abilities. I'm a HUGE Victoria Clark fan! But this role is lackluster.

Dermot Crowley's role as Joxer Daly was annoying.

Joseph Stein provides a so-so book. Some plot changes surprised me. Some were screaming obviousness. Others were dull. It's a show that doesn't try to be witty or shiny.

And I remind myself that this old-time musical may have been one of the first to bring not-so-good Irish family-life to the scripted stage. Today, it just didn't pack a punch. Sulking guilt-ridden son. Love-struck boy next-door. Tired mother. Lazy drunk father. Naive daughter. War-torn community.

I partially blame myself for not knowing more about the IRA. The Depression and the Holocaust I know. But the IRA confuses me still to this day. Maybe if I had some Irish blood in me, I'd care a little more about the Irish blood spilt on-stage.

LET'S WELCOME NO NO NANETTE AND [EDITED OUT], ALREADY!

Updated On: 3/29/08 at 12:30 AM

A poor hard working Irish Mother who is living in a time of war and politics that have not much to do with her.
Her Husband drinks and is a fine fellow in the community.
Her Daughter is a dreamer who doesn't see that Love in right in front of her, Arden with a sweet song.
They find out they have been left a lot of Money by a handsome insurance agent (Thorell)
Mary (Bolger) faLls for the guy and the Family celebrates their new fortune.
Also the one handed Bother has a deep dark secret, Act Two is Darker.

I didn't mean to say that this is a great show, it has many problems, but there are musical gems abounding (and some clinkers too).
But this is the kind if show I want to see at ENCORES.

Updated On: 3/27/08 at 07:29 PM

I'd love to hear Clark sing "I Wish It So."

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My musical theatre memory has gone on the fritz. Is this the show Shirley Booth and Melvyn Douglas did? There was also a male dancer in it whose name I can't remember, if I'm thinking of the right show.

Yes, and perhaps you're thinking of Tommy Rall.

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Thanks, Frenzy. I was thinking of Tommy Rall.

Chances of a recording? Hm? dependent on the response from the show, I guess?

I just bought a ticket for tonight. Anyone know the running time?

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I guess I'm showing my senility, but is Encores! plannng to do Damn Yankees? I knew about No, No, Nanette, but DY is new to me. Explain, please.

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will Brantley review this production. If so, when does that happen?

I agree with Eug. I also found it drab.

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