The Visit

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THE VISIT

Photo: Thom Kaine

Cititour.com Review
In a world where even demi-stars are accorded a one-name moniker, there still shine some supernovas who have earned that singular stature. And few luminaries deserve that honor more than Chita (if you must ask, Rivera) who has triumphantly returned to Broadway at an ageless 82 as the wily widow Claire Zachanassian in “The Visit,” the long-aborning musical adaptation of Friedrich Durrenmatt’s 1956 play. Needless to say, every moment that she’s standing, singing, and, yes, even dancing on the stage of the Lyceum Theatre is one worth treasuring.

Fortunately, the show’s book writer, Terrence McNally, the songwriting team of John Kander and (the late) Fred Ebb, and the talented director John Doyle have crafted a piece of theater that, even when Chita isn’t prowling around Scott Pask’s suitably spooky set, remains reasonably compelling. Admittedly “The Visit” isn’t on par with some of Kander and Ebb’s greatest works; yet it still puts many modern musicals to shame both in terms of ambition and result.

Unlike its source material, which is practically a parable, the focus here has been placed more realistically and quite squarely on the relationship between Claire, now the world’s wealthiest woman, and her former lover Anton Schell (a very fine Roger Rees in so-so singing voice), who abandoned the dirt-poor teenager and her unborn child in order to marry the wealthier Matilde (the excellent Mary Beth Piel).

After Claire has made a surprise return visit after many decades away, Anton, Matilde, their grown children Karl (George Abud) and Otillle (the lovely Elena Shaddow) and all their fellow destitute townspeople – including the earnest schoolteacher Frederick Kuhn (the superb Jason Danieley) and practical Mayor Peter Dummermut (the invaluable David Garrison) -- face a rather excruciating decision: to accept billions of marks from Claire (which will save the town and themselves from crippling poverty) in exchange for Anton’s life.

Ok, that’s a bit of a spoiler alert, since it takes almost a third of the 95-minute show before Claire makes that unusual offer. Until then, we’re left to hear about Claire’s many marriages (the amusing “I Walk Away”), Anton’s misguided belief that Claire has returned to town after many decades for more noble reasons (“I Know Claire”), as well as watching the younger versions of Anton and Claire (the equally stunning John Riddle and Michelle Ventimilla) circle their now-older selves.

Even after making its groundbreaking revelation, the show never finds a completely consistent tone, sometimes emphasizing Durrenmatt’s original message about greed and the perils of capitalism in post-war Europe (“Yellow Shoes”), and sometimes simply wallowing in the couple’s memories of young love (“You. You. You.”). Meanwhile, Doyle’s Brechtian touches (most evident in some of the characters’ make-up and the ever-present coffin that serves as the major set piece) don’t always jibe with some of his more straightforward staging choices (aided by Graciela Daniele’s clever choreography).

And what exactly should we make of “I Would Never Leave You,” an almost jaunty tune that Claire’s longtime servants and protectors, Rudi (Tom Nelis), Jacob Chicken (Chris Newcomer), and Louis Perch (Matthew Deming) – the latter two who were castrated by Clarie – sing to express their everlasting devotion to her?

Still, who can blame them? Is there anyone else who could look more radiant in Ann Hould-Ward’s elegant white outfit and dazzling necklace? Is there anyone else who could be more heartbreaking while singing the magnificent “Love and Love Alone”? Is there anyone else who could make us so complicit in such a twisted tale of revenge? Nope. There is only one Chita! Come visit her while you can!
By Brian Scott Lipton


Visit the Site
http://thevisitmusical.com

Cast
Chita Rivera, Roger Rees, Jason Danieley, David Garrison, Mary Beth Peil, George Abud, Matthew Deming, Diana Dimarzio, Rick Holmes, Tom Nelis, Chris Newcomer, Aaron Ramey, John Riddle, Elena Shaddow, Timothy Shew, Michelle Veintimilla

Open/Close Dates
Opening 4/23/2015
Closing 6/14/2015

Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 3/26/2015
Closing Open-ended

Box Office
212-239-6200

Theatre Info
Lyceum Theatre
149 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
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