Falsettos

Falsettos is playing at Walter Kerr Theatre located at 219 West 48th Street. The musical runs two hours and ten minutes with one intermission. It closes on January 18, 2017.

The original production was at the John Golden Theatre. It opened on April 29, 1992 and closed on June 17, 1993 after performing 487 performances and 23 previews. The show was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won two for Best Book of a Musical (James Lapine and William Finn) and Best Original Score (William Finn). It won a Drama Desk Award for Best Feature Actress (Barbara Walsh).

James Lapine is the director. He won three Tony Awards for Passion (1994), Falsettos (Best Book of a Musical 1992) and Into the Woods (Outstanding Book of a Musical 1988). James was nominated for nine Tony Awards for Act One (2014), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Be (2005), Into the Woods (2002), Dirty Blonde (2000), Passion (1994), Falsettos (1992), Into the Woods (1988) Sunday Into the park With George (Best Direction and Best Book of a Musical 1984).

Spencer Liff is the choreographer. He was nominated for a Drama desk Award for Spring Awakening (2016).

Christopher Borle won two Tony Awards for Something Rotten (2015) and Peter and the Star Catcher (2012). He was nominated for a Tony Award for Legally Blonde (200&0.

Stephanie J. Block was nominated for a Tony Award for the Mystery of Ewin Drood (2013). She was nominated for four Drama desk awards for Little Miss Sunshine (2014), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2013), By the Way, Meeting Verg Stark (2012) and 9-5 (2009).

Brandon Uranowitz was nominated for a Tony Award in 2015 for An American in Paris.

Andrew Rannells was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for The Book of Mormon (2011).

The show opens in the time of the Pharaohs where four of the cast are singing “Four Jews in a Room Bitching”.

Act one takes place in 1979.

Marvin (Christian Borle) is married to Trina (Stephanie J. Block) and they have a son Jason (Anthony Rosenthal). He asked her for a divorce. She is confused; she thought things were okay with her marriage. He wants a family structure but not with her. Marvin moves in with Whizzer (Andrew Rannells), they are a couple.

Marvin goes to a psychiatrist, Mendel (Brandon Uranowitz) to deal with this situation.

Jason is confused that his dad is gay.

Trina starts seeing Mendel to cope with what has happened.

Marvi and Whizzer break up. Marvin wants more than Whizzler does in the relationship.

Act two takes place in 1981.

Jason is about to have his Bar Mitzvah. Plans are being made for the occasion.

Mendel and Trina have married.

Marvin and Whizzler becomes a couple again. Their neighbors Dr. Charlotee (Tracie Thoms) and Cordelia (Betsy Wolfe) are lesbians. Cordelia is a chief.

Things happen which I am not telling. You will have to see this tender, touching, funny musical.

The whole cast does an outstanding performance. Christian Borle and Andrew Rannells singing are breathtaking. Anthony Rosenthal is twelve years old. What a talented young man. He does a great job.

The curtain is up before the show starts. In the middle of the stage is a cube. The background curtain is a silhouette of the New York City skyline. The cube is pulled apart and used as furniture and other things. The back ground light up, changing colors. Some furniture is brought out. It’s not fancy but serves its purpose without taking away from the show.

This is one show you should you should not miss. But you have to keep an open mind.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on recent photos for this and other shows.