Theatre Review: "The Band's Visit" Tour at The Bushnell

Hartford -The tour of “The Band’s Visit,” the winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and making it one of the most Tony-winning musicals in history, has visited the Bushnell in Hartford.

The musical, featuring thrillingly talented onstage musicians, truly rejoices in the way music makes us laugh, makes us cry, and ultimately, brings us together. The book for this new musical was written by Itamar Moses, based on the screenplay of the 2007 Israeli film written by Eran Kolirin, and David Yazbek (“The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”) wrote the music and lyrics.

With a score that touches your soul and sweeps you off your feet, the show is set in Israel in 1996, and moves from an airport bus station, to a town that’s way off the beaten path called Bet Hatikva, and finally to the city of Petah Tikva.

It is an offbeat story in which a band of Egyptian musicians arrive lost to the small town of Bet Hatikva, out of the blue. Under the spell of the hot desert sky, and with beautiful music filling the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected ways. I loved this touching and simple story, although it is called “not very important” at both the beginning and end of the show. I had been looking forward to experiencing this show and I was not disappointed.

Even this briefest of visits can stay with audiences forever in the unique musical. The performance opens with an overture, but the first scene in the bus station is without music and very funny. Then comes the first musical number “Waiting,” as the audience had done while the overture was played. The musical numbers almost seem to come out of nowhere, but are not unwelcome. Everything is understated until the beautiful “Answer Me” with the entire ensemble.

Janet Dacal (who was part of the original Broadway cast of “In the Heights” and “Prince of Broadway”) is wonderful in the leading role of Dina, a restaurant owner in this small Israeli town. Israeli actor Sasson Gabay is very strong in the role of the band leader Tewfiq, the role he played in the film version of “The Band’s Visit.” Joe Joseph, who appeared on Broadway in “The Band’s Visit,” is charming and handsome in the role of band member Haled and Clay Singer, who has appeared onstage at the Westport Country Playhouse, plays the role of the young father Itzik.

Yoni Avi Battat, a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer, plays Camal in his acting debut, and Coby Getzug, who has appeared on Broadway and in national tours, stands out as Papi in “Papi Hears the Ocean.” The Telephone Guy awaiting a call from his girlfriend at a payphone is played by Joshua Grosso, a 2012 Jimmy Award winner.

Kendal Hartse is Iris, Kendal Hartse is Itzik’s father in law Avrum, Billy Cohen (“Billy Elliot” at Goodspeed) is Zegler, Nick Sacks (“Dear Evan Hansen” on Broadway and “Next to Normal” at TheaterWorks Hartford) is Sammy, James Rana (“The Band’s Visit” on Broadway) plays Simon, Layan Elwazani, who appeared on Broadway in this show, is Julia, and Ariel Reich is Anna.

The very talented musicians onstage in The Band in the title are Battat (on violin,) Roger Kashou (on darbouka and riq,) Brian Krock (on clarinet, sax, and flute,) Kane Mathis (on oud and guitar) and Wick Simmons (on cello.) Adrian Ries conducts the players and covers the keyboard, with Mak Van Ziegler on bass, Shai Wetzer on drums and Arabic percussion and Alex Farha as the musician swing.

The 2018 Tony Award lighting design by Tyler Micoleau translated well to the Bushnell stage for the most part and the scenic design by Scott Pask was both slightly minimal and very clever. It transforms from small apartments to a roller rink, complete with a disco ball.

Recommended for ages 10+ The run time is 100 minutes, with no intermission.
THE BAND'S VISIT runs through NOV 21, 2021 at the William H. Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell in Hartford.