THE BANDSTAND *** out of ****
THE GIN GAME **
ROTHSCHILD & SONS ** 1/2
THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE **
THE BANDSTAND *** out of ****
PAPERMILL PLAYHOUSE
It's 1945 and the war veterans (and war bride) in The Bandstand have a dream: making it in New York City. Their chance is a big band showdown where one lucky act with the best new song paying tribute to our troops gets a shot at movie immortality. Surely the talented folks behind this new musical have the same dream: making it in New York City.
Unquestionably, they've got a lot going for them: two very appealing leads, a brisk and propulsive visual style powered by director and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and a family friendly story with some bite (namely, soldiers suffering from PTSD, something rarely discussed in connection with World War II). A little more visual pizazz (Cleveland doesn't look that different from NYC, for starters), some tightening in the books and lyrics, and especially a thoroughly reworked finale and they might well get there. As long as they're not in a rush like the crazy young people at the heart of this story.
Donny Novitski (Corey Cott) is back from the Pacific, sleepless from memories of war and ready -- no, desperate -- to get his musical career as a big band pianist back on track. His room at home with the folks is feeling pretty crowded when a voice speaks to him about a glimpse of the future. A voice on the radio, actually, telling about a nationwide contest: amateur bands from around the country will compete to represent their state with an original song honoring the troops. State winners get to appear on national radio and the champ gets their song in a big Hollywood movie where they even get to play themselves.
Donny doesn't lack for confidence but he also has a very clever idea: he'll build a hot new band out of fellow veterans, giving them the credibility to pay honor to those who served because they served. Smart guy. Donny recruits Jimmy who recruits Davy and before you know it they're off to the races. Donny's got gumption and a pretty pushy nature but by god he can write some catchy tunes. Still, as he confesses to Jimmy, Donny doesn't have the guts to look up the widow of his best pal in the Army, like he promised. He finally gets up the nerve and lo and behold Julia (Laura Osnes) is pretty and has great vocal chops and before you know it Donny's big band has a girl singer. This crazy dream just might work!
Essentially, The Bandstand is smooth entertainment as the description of its basic plot makes clear. It might have been as bland as the generic poster advertising the show. Instead, it consistently allows a darker thread to run through the story. Donny gets furious when a guy won't give him work and makes a crack about thanking him for his service. His fellow musicians have their own tics: one is compulsively rigid and neat, another is dim-witted after an accident in a jeep and takes endless pills, yet another drinks constantly to drown out memories of Dachau and so on. The show would undoubtedly improve if those gritty impulses were encouraged even more. So many of these references (like one character being closeted) flit by so quickly you almost don't notice. And our hero's struggles shouldn't be so opaque: we're told repeatedly Donny can't sleep but you'd swear it has more to do with his drive to succeed as a composer, rather than nightmares from battle.
On the plus side, Blankenbuehler follows up his acclaimed work on Hamilton with marvelous direction and choreography. It's a good thing he did both here since they're so seamless in moving the story along. In the breathless opener, Donny is in the midst of war, discharged, reunited with his parents, dancing at a club with his mom and adjusting to civilian life, all in one convincing, character-defining whirl. Blankenbuehler's choreography is rooted in the dancing of the period but also incorporates everything from rigid military posture to boxing moves that reflect the inner turmoil of the veterans that is always simmering just beneath the surface.
Perhaps his peak is with the act one finale where t
THE GIN GAME **
ROTHSCHILD & SONS ** 1/2
THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE **
THE BANDSTAND *** out of ****
PAPERMILL PLAYHOUSE
It's 1945 and the war veterans (and war bride) in The Bandstand have a dream: making it in New York City. Their chance is a big band showdown where one lucky act with the best new song paying tribute to our troops gets a shot at movie immortality. Surely the talented folks behind this new musical have the same dream: making it in New York City.
Unquestionably, they've got a lot going for them: two very appealing leads, a brisk and propulsive visual style powered by director and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and a family friendly story with some bite (namely, soldiers suffering from PTSD, something rarely discussed in connection with World War II). A little more visual pizazz (Cleveland doesn't look that different from NYC, for starters), some tightening in the books and lyrics, and especially a thoroughly reworked finale and they might well get there. As long as they're not in a rush like the crazy young people at the heart of this story.
Donny Novitski (Corey Cott) is back from the Pacific, sleepless from memories of war and ready -- no, desperate -- to get his musical career as a big band pianist back on track. His room at home with the folks is feeling pretty crowded when a voice speaks to him about a glimpse of the future. A voice on the radio, actually, telling about a nationwide contest: amateur bands from around the country will compete to represent their state with an original song honoring the troops. State winners get to appear on national radio and the champ gets their song in a big Hollywood movie where they even get to play themselves.
Donny doesn't lack for confidence but he also has a very clever idea: he'll build a hot new band out of fellow veterans, giving them the credibility to pay honor to those who served because they served. Smart guy. Donny recruits Jimmy who recruits Davy and before you know it they're off to the races. Donny's got gumption and a pretty pushy nature but by god he can write some catchy tunes. Still, as he confesses to Jimmy, Donny doesn't have the guts to look up the widow of his best pal in the Army, like he promised. He finally gets up the nerve and lo and behold Julia (Laura Osnes) is pretty and has great vocal chops and before you know it Donny's big band has a girl singer. This crazy dream just might work!
Essentially, The Bandstand is smooth entertainment as the description of its basic plot makes clear. It might have been as bland as the generic poster advertising the show. Instead, it consistently allows a darker thread to run through the story. Donny gets furious when a guy won't give him work and makes a crack about thanking him for his service. His fellow musicians have their own tics: one is compulsively rigid and neat, another is dim-witted after an accident in a jeep and takes endless pills, yet another drinks constantly to drown out memories of Dachau and so on. The show would undoubtedly improve if those gritty impulses were encouraged even more. So many of these references (like one character being closeted) flit by so quickly you almost don't notice. And our hero's struggles shouldn't be so opaque: we're told repeatedly Donny can't sleep but you'd swear it has more to do with his drive to succeed as a composer, rather than nightmares from battle.
On the plus side, Blankenbuehler follows up his acclaimed work on Hamilton with marvelous direction and choreography. It's a good thing he did both here since they're so seamless in moving the story along. In the breathless opener, Donny is in the midst of war, discharged, reunited with his parents, dancing at a club with his mom and adjusting to civilian life, all in one convincing, character-defining whirl. Blankenbuehler's choreography is rooted in the dancing of the period but also incorporates everything from rigid military posture to boxing moves that reflect the inner turmoil of the veterans that is always simmering just beneath the surface.
Perhaps his peak is with the act one finale where t