Review of Happy Days The Musical Indianapolis Jan. 13

[MisterSnow89]

Posted: 1/15/09 at 3:23pm

Okay so I saw the tour of Happy Days the Musical the other day, and I must say that it was one of the worst shows that I have ever seen. Well at least Act 1 was. I left at Intermission. I've never done that before, so I think that speaks volumes about how much I disliked it. The score was extremely forgettable, and the lyrics were downright laughable. The plot was all over the place and the book was very dumb. I mean I know that Happy Days isn't Shakespeare, but that doesn't mean that it couldn't have been coherent and witty. As for the choregraphy, I've seen better at high schools. The cast did very well with their very poor material, however. I would especially like to mention Felicia Finley who played Pinky Tuscadero, Fonzie's love interest.

Another major problem I had with the show was that it came off as rather sexist. In one song Fonzie compares girls to cars. And the character of Mrs. Cunnigham was treated horribly. There were many "jokes" about that her place in life was to just cook dinner. In the writer's defense, they did give her a song (a pretty bad one though) in which she talks about her dreams to do more with her life than be a housewife. I don't know if her treatment was addressed in Act 2, but even if it was, I still think the show would have seemed sexist to me. Happy Days is just not a serious enough work to address real issues without them appearing offensive.

So all in all it was a rather bad experience. But I'm just wondering if anyone else has seen it and if they had similar thoughts.

[shpants]

Posted: 1/15/09 at 3:29pm

Thanks for the review....

I was wondering about this show, and am glad that someone saw it and took the time to write a review!

I think the show is coming to Toronto, and I didn't get tickets because I was skeptical that it was even worth the discounted price.
Thanks for backing up my decision to opt out of it! LOL

[PlayhouseBeauty]

Posted: 1/15/09 at 5:13pm

I saw this show about a year ago at the Paper Mill Playhouse and really enjoyed it. The cast was good. Joey Sorge who plays Fonzie is the best part of the show I think. He played the role so well and to me he sounded and looked just like Henry Winkler. I do have to agree with you that the plot is a bit week but it is not supposed to Shakespeare. The songs I thought for the most part were catchy. There are still some that I will listen to on a regular basis. The way they treated Mrs. Cunningham wasn't the best but that’s how wives were treated in the 50s. There place was in the home. In the 2nd Act they do redeem the character but I don't want to say just in case someone is going to see it. All in all I thought it was a good show.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:05am

http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A391790