A CurtainUp New Jersey Review
A Bronx Tale, The Musical
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Nothing so sad as a talent that's wasted — Lorenzo
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The Cast (Photo: Jerry Dalia)
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This somewhat dark, purposefully discomforting tale as a musical is for the most part an enjoyable entertainment. This song-filled, exuberantly acted and smartly staged trip down one man's unapologetically sentimentalized memory lane has the makings of a hit.
Despite its tendency (make that its aim), to romanticize the thugs and goons who reigned over the Bronx, this autobiographical musical doesn't completely glorify nor wholeheartedly denounce these denizens. Comfortable with killing as they are, these often deplorable characters are cautiously idolized, in the eyes of its youthful narrator who as a nine year-old witnessed a street killing.
Under the guidance of two directors — Jerry Zaks, who directed the stage version, and Robert De Niro, who directed the film— the production now in its world premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse had the audience cheering on opening night. They were right to do so, but it is the vibrant score by Hollywood and Disney favorite Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors , Beauty and the Beast , The Little Mermaid , Newsies , Aladdin) that essentially puts the show into its orbit. Its joyously integrated pretensions of the Doo Wop era are perfectly blended with the best Broadway tradition.
Menken's collaborator-lyricist Glen Slater, who is also currently represented now on Broadway by School of Rock, has beautifully empowered the ear-pleasing melodies with street lingo and an unaffected honesty. One such gem is "Nicky Machiavelli," in which top gangster Sonny (played with sustained panache by Nick Cordero) conveys to the young Calogaro (a wonderful Joshua Colley) the philosophy that he acquired doing time in prison ("Lemme Tell Ya what He said; You Wanna Use the Reins of Power, First You Gotta Use Your Head").
The conflicting philosophies of the swaggering Sonny and Calogaro's loving but stern father Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake) are the basis for the plot. Lorenzo has to keep reminding Calogaro that there is "nothing so sad as a talent that's wasted." Which philosophical perspective Calogaro is to believe serves to confuse the impressionable youth. His choice, as the musical would have us believe, determines his ethical path for the next eight years.
The show effectively uses both Colley and the excellent Jason Gotay as the seventeen year-old Calogero to tell the tale. but it's Gotay who is the narrator throughout, also cleverly shadow ing his younger self in the early scenes.
Not quite left in the shadows is Calogero's loving mother Rosina, played with warmth to spare by Lucia Giannetta. She gets to reprise a lovely ballad, "Look to Your Hear,t" previously introduced by her husband and son. However, it is the immensely talented young Colley's astonishing voice that reaches the rafters with the musical's show-stopper "I Like It" that's later reprised with Gotay.
The show also considers the racial divide between the blacks who live in the Webster Avenue section and the Italians who live in the Belmont Avenue section of the borough. A sweet but also dangerous romance blossoms between Calogero and Jane, a pretty black student who is appealingly played by Coco Jones. It triggers violence and a tragedy. Despite obvious shades of West Side Story in the plot, the choreography by Sergio Trujillo is exciting with some dynamic dancing by both the black and white performers. Sweet moments are also supplied by a street-corner doo wop quartet.
Beowulf Borritt's spectacular set design frames the action with towering rotating tenements. The local bar and other locations are seamlessly integrate by Howell Binkley's superb lighting. As expected, costume designer William Ivey Long captures the look of the era perfectly with his usual flair.
The two-hour production might benefit from being performed without an intermission, as Act II in not nearly as exciting as the first and feels unnecessarily stretched just to resolve its predictably few loose ends. Act I, however rides along on enough of a high to make the full show an audience pleaser. Caveat: That is for all except young children.
| A Bronx Tale Longacre Theatre 220 West 48^th Street Cast: Nick Cordero, Richard H. Blake, Bobby Conte Thornton, Ariana DeBose, Lucia Giannetta, Bradley Gibson lead a 30-member cast. Book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater. Co-Directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks. Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. From 11/03/16; opening 12/01/16. For our review of the premiere production at the Papermill Playhouse go here Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn From 02/04.16 Opened 02/14/16 Ends 03/06/16 Review by Simon Saltzman based on performance 02/14/16 |
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