Review: 'Falsettos' by Sacred Heart University Theatre

Fairfield, CT - I had always wanted to see FALSETTOS and jumped at the chance to see it presented at my alma mater Sacred Heart University. The musical has a book written by William Finn and James Lapine with music and lyrics by William Finn. FALSETTOS won the Tony Award for Best Score and Best Book for a Musical.

FALSETTOS revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife Trina, his lover Whizzer, his about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son Jason, their psychiatrist Mendel, and the lesbians next door. It is billed as a “hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family… and a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.” This modern family that predates the ‘Modern Family’ television sitcom and is anything but a sitcom.

“Is this therapy?” - Jason

There are definitely some laughs in the lighter first act, which is actually the early eighties Off-Broadway production entitled MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS. The more powerful second act is the related musical FALSETTOLAND, that ran in the early nineties. Although the two works were written and produced nine years apart, the two Off-Broadway shows span only three years (from 1979 to 1981) and include the same characters, except for the addition of the lesbian couple next door for the second act. The two pieces work together well when they are only separated by an intermission and not the nine years between when the AIDS crisis intervened.

I must admit that I found parts of both acts a bit plodding at times and it wasn’t because the actors weren’t performing their best; I had to pay such close attention to the non-stop lyrics for fear of missing something that I shouldn’t. The sung-through musical includes only a handful of spoken lines and the music and lyrics are so intricate that I scribbled “sounds like Sondheim” in my notes before I remembered that James Lapine had collaborated with the composer on several works. There was not a single scene that was not extremely complicated musically, to the point where I could not imagine having to learn the score for performance, and I have never been easily intimidated by a challenging musical work. I was exceedingly proud of the SHU students in the small cast that mastered the music and made it look easy to perform it, when, in fact, it was anything but. In the end, I appreciated why the musical had won the two particular Tonys and I look forward to seeing it again in the future to delve deeper into its intricacies.

Jerry Goehring had a clear vision of what FALSETTOS should look like and the students rose to the challenge. Andrew Peloquin served as the assistant director. Marissa Powers designed the bits of choreography. Leo Carusone had his work cut out for him as the musical director; Tom Morris played the piano house left and “the band” was acknowledged by the psychiatrist at one point. Andrew Patino served as the show’s producer and gave the brief curtain speech.

The show was well-cast with six of the university’s talented theatre students and one talented-beyond-his-years young performer. Each and every one of them have an admirable singing voice and they blended beautifully on all of the difficult number, the only one that I heard before being the “The Baseball Game.”

Britton McGrath rose to the level of his older castmates to take on the role of young Jason. Mr. McGrath has played Tommy in a production of MATILDA, Flounder in LITTLE MERMAID, JR and Winthrop in MUSIC MAN, JR. and writes in his bio that he is grateful to the SHU cast and crew “for their encouragement throughout the production of this beautiful show.” I am sure that they are grateful to have secured such a wonderful addition to their cast, for the show would not have worked without a young man for the role.

Fun fact: Danny Gerard, the nephew of a colleague, was in the original cast of the musical FALSETTOLAND, playing the role of Jason. He played Alan Silver in the CBS television series Brooklyn Bridge and was in the original Broadway production of LOST IN YONKERS. He can actually be heard on the second disc of the two-CD set of MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS and FALSETTOLAND.

Jake Doble (BE MORE CHILL, IN THE HEIGHTS, JCS) is now a senior in Theatre Arts and Media Arts at SHU and played the role with the unlikely name of Whizzer, the lover of Marvin who Jason adores. Mr. Doble always gives a wonderful performance; he gave his all to his character and sang beautifully. Charlie Fusari, a junior who recently appeared in THE LARAMIE PROJECT: TEN YEARS LATER at SHU, understood the neurotic character of Marvin.

SHU junior Johannah Johnson (BE MORE CHILL) shared her beautiful singing voice as Trina, the mother of Jason in emotional crisis, and nailed the complex character. This role was played by Faith Prince, Stephanie J. Block Eden Espinosa in different professional productions, so she should be very proud of herself. Tori Vacca did not come on stage until the second act in the role of internist Dr. Charlotte, but left her mark on the show. So did Michaela Vieira (ASM in IN BEES IN HONEY DROWN) in the role of her partner Cordelia, the best name of King Lear’s three daughters, in my opinion.

And last, but not least, was Justin Weigel in the role of the family psychiatrist Mendel. He fit so easily into the role that he made it look easy and of course sang his very best. His numerous credits that I have had the honor of seeing include BE MORE CHILL, NEXT TO NORMAL, MACBETH, WORKING, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, and AVENUE Q.

The simple set (designed by the theatre arts department) of wooden blocks arranged as needed was topped with a backlit cityscape that reminded us of the location throughout. Multi-colored lights below the latter changed purposefully according to the lighting design by Kaylie Mallegol. Sound design by Brendan Borbone worked well in the black box, flipped back to the normal design. Emma Trimmings designed by the period appropriate costumes and Bella Scaglione and Delaney Lynch were in charge of the hair and makeup that worked well.

Get your tickets today to the heartwarming musical that reminds us that love tells a million stories! Performance/Ticket Info: www.edgertoncenter.org Box Office (Weekdays 12-4 PM): (203) 371-7908 #SHUTheatreArts

Nancy Sasso Janis (SHU '81, '89) writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.
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