I saw the show last night (Sat., Dec. 6).
I very much wanted to see the original Broadway production, had an opportunity to do so, and passed because I thought it would run longer given the reviews. This time I didn't make the same mistake, and I was not disappointed.
While there are flaws in the show--the second act drags at times and some of the lyrics are treacly--I thought it was powerful and emotionally overwhelming. Of course, the heart of the show is the sisters, and Emily Padgett and Megan McGinnis were simply terrific in the roles--superbly acted, deeply affecting performances. And their singing was out this world; the two big ballads ("Who Will Love Me As I Am?" and "I Will Never Leave You") brought the house down.
The supporting players were also very fine, including Robert Joy (as the evil Sir) and David St. Louis (who has a power-house voice) as Jake. The artists who designed and executed the "freak" make-up and the wigs and the costume designer also contributed greatly to the success of the show.
In thirty-plus years of New York theater-going, I've seen hundreds of Broadway shows, and it's easy to get jaded about seeing yet another musical. But I really felt an emotional connection to this show that unfortunately happens less and less frequently. So it's great to see a performance that, every once in a while, reminds me of why I have spent so much of my time (and cold hard cash) doing this.
Updated On: 12/7/14 at 10:52 AM