Posted: 11/30/18 at 12:26pm
I caught this on Wednesday night and had a great time, overall.
The show works best when it is leaning both into while sort of mocking the bio-musical tropes and the Cher brand/persona. It falters when it does those tropes earnestly (the constant reminders of Cher's shyness, for instance, or Cher's romances that aren't Sonny).
The first act is really lacking in major wow-factor production numbers; aside from the Mackie number, most feel truncated. However, the second act more than makes up for it with the fabulous "Dark Lady," the economical storytelling and 60s pastiche of "The Beat Goes On," and more powerhouse vocals from Stephanie J. Block than you thought possible.
Although the framing device of a variety show is no longer explicitly in the show, it's still very much there. There's no fourth wall; notable characters are introduced to and acknowledge the audience when they appear as if they were guests; etc. It really leans into the idea of a show about Cher, hosted by Cher(s).
Stephanie J. Block is giving a tremendous performance, nailing the impersonation while bringing a great deal of emotional depth. This is no caricature.
Micaela Diamond is making quite the debut, too, and I'm glad they showcase her in "The Beat Goes On."
Teal Wicks has the most thankless of the three Chers- she's a transitional figure, really, between the young, naïve, and spunky Babe and the "goddess warrior" and icon Star. Lady is too much of both to be distinct from them and not enough of either to be as compelling. They don't find a way in that really works- this isn't Fun Home, where the three age periods are necessary and very distinct as life phases.
Jarred Spector is great as (a distractingly jacked) Sonny Bono, and got quite the audience response when he started singing.
Emily Skinner really makes the most of her two roles, and you constantly look forward to seeing her.
The ensemble is incredibly hard-working and hard-bodied (Charlie Williams, woof).
Overall, this won't change your life. It doesn't want or try to. But it's damn good entertainment, anchored by some fantastic women, and it tweaks the nose of the concept of the jukebox bio-musical enough that it breathes life into an increasingly craven-looking genre.
, she will be gracing the Broadway stages for some time!...
