Posted: 10/23/24 at 5:38pm
Perhaps my expectations were lowered based on some reports here but I actually enjoyed this.
Kit Connor is exceptional in this role. Incredibly captivating and charming, totally sells you that he's falling in love with this girl despite just meeting her. And a wonderful command of the language. I hope he continues to do Broadway. Gabby Beans is also exceptional. The flower bed reveal is fun and the balcony scene was basically perfect. I thought the concept of setting inside a sort of rave setting allowed Gold to think outside the box and come up with some interesting staging. And it is clearly steeped in current Gen Z behaviors (all the young theatergoers were really eating it up). Cool that its getting so many young folks into the theater and seeing Shakespeare.
The main problem for me is that act 1 feels much stronger than act 2. It's almost like Gold couldn't quite figure out how to extend his concept to the second act. So it loses something when you come back from intermission. Tommy Dorfman is clearly having a ball with the Nurse, but hasn't really created a distinct characterization for Tybalt, and I wish those parts weren't double cast. And the songs are...weird? I overall liked Rachel Zegler (though much of her more emotional material in act 2 felt strangely forced...again, it's like they all really need to re-examine that second act), and she sounds incredible singing....but the song that ends act 2 totally undercuts the exciting/chaotic/thrilling ending to act 1 that already exists. It was just unnecessary.
Even with my quibbles, I had a fun time. And I genuinely hope Kit receives a Tony nomination.
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