Review: 'The Flamingo Kid A New Musical' at Hartford Stage

Dedicated to Darko Tresnjak, with gratitude for your new piece of art

Hartford, CT - I may be the only person on the planet who has never seen the film version of THE FLAMINGO KID. I can honestly admit that I knew absolutely nothing about it before heading to Hartford Stage for the press matinee for the new musical of the same name that closes their 2018-2019 season.

Despite my lack of background knowledge, I thoroughly enjoyed the world premiere of this charming musical helmed by Darko Tresnjak. THE FLAMINGO KID will be Mr. Tresnjak’s last production as Artistic Director and is the first new musical to premiere at Hartford Stage since the glorious ANASTASIA back in May of 2016. The director is also quite well known for his first musical for Hartford Stage, a little show called A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, that went on to win four Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical.

I missed GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE at Hartford Stage, and again when it transferred to Broadway, but I did manage to catch a performance of the tour at Waterbury’s Palace Theater. The musical is currently in the midst of a successful national tour and is being performed internationally as well; in February, the Warner Theatre in Torrington produced one of the first community theatre productions on their mainstage.

For me, there is something very special about seeing a new musical. I felt it when I saw one of the first performances of ANASTASIA at Hartford Stage. It is like witnessing the unveiling of some just-completed piece of art. The lyrics and music have probably been rewritten and relentlessly rehearsed, the dance steps reworked, the multiple costumes gone through several alterations. Now it is time for all of the hard work to be put on display; it always feels as if the other members of the audience disappear as I focus intently on all that is new.

Set in the summer of 1963, THE FLAMINGO KID tells the story of a Brooklyn teen who, against the wishes of his father, takes a summer job at El Flamingo, a posh Long Island beach club. There Jeffrey meets Karla, a forward-thinking girl from California and romance ensues. Tensions grow between father and son when a slick club member takes the young cabana boy under his wing; eventually the teen learns some valuable life lessons.

Robert L. Freedman (GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE) wrote the book and lyrics that I suspect stay true to the somewhat predictable screenplay of the film. I found the dialogue, nicely laden with “Yiddish-isms” translated in the program, snappy and easy to follow. The clever lyrics moved the story along with polished music written by Scott Frankel (WAR PAINT,) a Yale University graduate where he teaches musical theatre composition. The ten-piece orchestra in the pit covered the score with heart under the direction of music director Thomas Murray (ANASTASIA.) Aaron Rhyne produced the fine projection designs.

The cast is led by Jimmy Brewer, who was cast in the role of Jeffrey Winnick last year while still a student at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Mr. Brewer recently played Stephen Schwartz in the television series FOSSE/VERDON and Mr. Schwartz came to see him at the Sunday matinee. He brought a memorable singing voice and plenty of charm to the role of a teen with lessons to learn. Samantha Massell (who won a Connecticut Critics Circle Best Actress Award for her role as in RAGS at Goodspeed) sang beautifully and had a great stage presence as the Brody’s niece, the California girl named Karla Samuels.

I was most impressed with the performance of Broadway veteran Adam Heller, an actor I remembered for his work in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and RAGS at Goodspeed Musicals and who was awarded a Connecticut Critics Circle for his portrayal of Tevye in FIDDLER. He used his wonderful singing voice once again as Arthur, the plumber and father of Jeffrey. Liz Larsen (BEAUTIFUL on Broadway) was a joy in the role of Jeffrey’s devoted mother, Ruth.

Marc Kudisch (FINDING NEVERLAND on Broadway) made the most of the role of car salesman Phil Brody, one half of the affluent couple who frequent the El Flamingo Club. Lesli Margherita, who originated the role of Mrs. Wormwood in MATILDA THE MUSICAL, took on the role of his wife Phyllis and showed us all how it is done.

Ben Fankhauser (NEWSIES, original Broadway cast and movie) played Steve and Alex Wyse (WAITRESS) played Hawk, friends of Jeffrey who frequent El Flamingo. Stuart Zagnit had fun in the role of Colonel Easton, the owner of the club, as did Omar Lopez-Cepero as Latin dancer Alejandro. Lindsey Brett Carothers played the Winnick daughter Joyce in her Hartford Stage debut.

Ensemble member Ben Bogan (FROZEN on Broadway) played a Lido Guy, Michael Hartung (HELLO, DOLLY!) as Neal, Irv, Jean Kauffman (CATS-National Tour) as Nana Brodsky and Mrs. Unger, Ken Krugman (ANASTASIA) as Mr. Cartucci, Freddy and Mike, Omar Lopez-Cepero (ON YOUR FEET!,) Anna Noble (CAROUSEL,) Erin Leigh Peck (GREASE) as Mrs. Finkelstein, Gregory Rodriguez as the parking attendant and Leo, Steve Routman (THE UNDERPANTS at Hartford Stage) as Morty, William Squier (REAR WINDOW) as Big Cid, Kathy Voytko (GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE) as Mrs. Bakaleinikoff, Price Waldman (GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE) as Cy and Dr. Ganz, Kelli Youngman (ANASTASIA,) and Stuart Zagnit (SEUSSICAL.)

Students from The Hartt School include Gregory Rodriguez (as Leo) in the ensemble, and Taylor Lloyd and Jayke Workman, both swings.

Mr. Tresnjak directs his final musical at Hartford Stage with a deft touch, ensuring that the action moves at a mostly crisp pace. Denis Jones (TOOTSIE on Broadway) makes his mark with inspired choreography in his debut at Hartford Stage and there is not a weak dancer on the stage. Lighting designed by Philip Rosenberg (GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE) suggested sun-drenched when necessary and sound design by Peter Hylenski worked well to the back of the house.

The production easily bounces between the sun-drenched Long Island beach and the gritty Brooklyn neighborhood. The set designed by Tony Award-nominated Alexander Dodge (GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE) features all of the usual Hartford Stage bells and whistles; halves of period cars slide gently on the stage and the kitchen of Jeffrey’s home pieces together from the wings. I loved the working seesaw. Linda Cho, who won a Tony for the costume design for GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE, brings the characters back to the very colorful early sixties. Charles G. LaPointe was in charge of the excellent wig and hair design.

Making this performance even more special for me was running into two NewArts young performers in the lobby. Nicole and Marina Kolitsas, both of whom have given stellar performances in several NewArts productions, waited at the Hartford Stage stage door to meet Ms. Margherita and the iconic Stephen Schwartz.

Thank you to the staff of Hartford Stage for allowing this reviewer to experience the excitement of the opening of a brand new musical.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417