Tuck Everlasting
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Cititour.com Review
“Tuck Everlasting,” the enchanting new musical version of Natalie Babbitt’s popular children’s novel now at the Broadhurst Theatre, may not be the ideal date night fare for an adult couple or give “Hamilton” a run for its money at this year’s Tony Awards. So what? Luckily, the ever-sharp director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw has made sure there’s more than enough onstage to please the young ones – as well as their older companions. Walt Spangler’s sets drench the stage in color, as do Gregg Barnes’ glorious costumes, giving the show just the right amount of visual appeal, while the piece itself smartly manages to walk the fine line between sentimental and syrupy.
The story is, admittedly, fairly simple: Having been denied permission to go to the local fair, 11-year-old Winnie Foster (the remarkably poised, strong-voiced Sarah Charles Lewis in a most impressive Broadway debut) runs away to the woods of her New Hampshire home. There, she discovers the Tucks, a family who has been granted, for better and worse, the gift of immortality after drinking from a spring over a century ago. She instantly bonds with the youngest, Jesse (the exceedingly appealing Andrew Keenan-Bolger) who passes for 17 (but is actually 102). Eventually, Winnie must decide whether to return to a “normal” life or live perhaps happily forever after.
Librettists Claudia Shear and Tim Federle are fine storytellers who don’t resort to particularly cheap jokes or double entendres to entertain, but instead use sincerity and clarity to their advantage. Meanwhile composer Nathan Tysen and lyricist Chris Miller have created a satisfying, if slightly by-the-numbers, score (albeit tinged with a little bit of folk music and Irish list) to supplement the action.
Among the highlights are Winnie’s character-defining “Good Girl Winnie Foster,” the steeped-in-memory ballads “My Most Beautiful Day” (magnificently rendered by the great Carolee Carmello, emitting solar-like warmth as Tuck matriarch Mae) and “Time” (lovingly sung by Robert Lenzi as the mostly level-headed older son Miles), and the wannabe showstopper, “Everything’s Golden” (performed with give-it-all-you-got panache by Terrence Mann as the creepy Man in the Yellow Suit).
Fortunately, Nicholaw’s casting instincts, as usual, are spot-on. No fault can be found with anyone onstage, including the excellent Michael Park as warm-hearted patriarch Angus Tuck, the delightful Fred Applegate and Michael Wartella as Constable Joe and his slightly goofy son Hugo, Valerie Wright as Winnie’s slightly starchy mom, and the wonderful Pippa Pearthree as her feisty Nana. And best of all, in some ways, are the superb ensemble, who finally get to truly show off their terpsichorean talents in a gorgeous end-of-act-two ballet that’s practically worth the price of admission.
So, will “Tuck Everlasting” become Tuck Longlasting? I wouldn’t be surprised. After all, how many times can a young girl (and her parents) see “Wicked” or “Matilda”?
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.tuckeverlastingmusical.com
Cast
Carolee Carmello, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Michael Park, Robert Lenzi, Michael Wartella, Valerie Wright, Fred Applegate, Terrence Mann, Sarah Charles Lewis
Open/Close Dates
Opening 4/26/2016
Closing 5/29/2016
Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 3/31/2016
Closing Open-ended
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Broadhurst Theatre
235 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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