The Bushnell, Hartford, CT
through October 18, 2015
by Shera Cohen
 |
| Photo by Dean van Meere |
“Extra, extra, read all about it.” Read this review and,
undoubtedly, many others that appear this week, and don’t hesitate to buy
tickets to “Newsies.” The immature sounding title and a large cast of young
actors who, perhaps, haven’t yet earned their wings might connote that this
musical is kids’ stuff. Hardly. “Newsies,” based on the newsboy strike of 1899
in NYC, is gritty, dramatic, and serious in telling its story of David and
Goliath (a line in the play).
Mix a little bit “Oliver” with “Billy Elliott,” then blend
the two in a big Disneyesque bowl of reality and dreams, hardship and hope,
charmingly flawed handsome young guy and plucky intelligent beautiful young lady
and the result is delicious.
Act I kicks off with an all-boy song and dance. From there
the story, character connections, pace, and purpose revv up. Act II finds a
balance of poignant solos and full-chorus action, romance, dance, and laughter.
Joey Barreiro plays Jack (our lead) with charisma and street
smarts. Not until Act II is his character challenged to sing his heart out. He
does, and nails it. Morgan Keene (girl reporter aka Jack’s sweetheart) could
very well play any Disney heroine. Yet this gingham gal separates herself from
the pack in “Watch What Happens” – a Sondheim-like fast talking song. Ah, she’s
no Ariel.
This musical has so many elements that make it a success,
notably the sets and staging. It is difficult to believe that this touring
company [say what you will about bus & truck shows, but Bushnell brings in
Broadway-quality] mounts such a big musical on the day of opening night. Giant
scaffolding, swinging up, down, sideways, create every one of the
often-changing sets. The multi-fold arrangements of apparatus of metal and man
(male dance ensemble of 25+ ) should be given credit of as one of the
“leads.”
Choreographer Christopher Gattelli is a magician. Of course,
large dance numbers are expected – why else are there some 30 or so characters
on the stage at one time? Yet, the footwork goes above and beyond the
predictable. The tap is sleek, the gymnastics are Olympian, the fighting is
fresh, and the show stopping “Seize the Day” is breath-taking.
Don’t be surprised if, before orchestra plays its final
notes, the audience bolts out of their seats for a standing ovation.
