THEATRE REVIEW: "Falsettos" at the Nederlander Theatre (Chicago, IL)

      On the evening of May 28th, 2019, I saw Act One of  the James Lapine / William Finn musical "Falsettos,"  when the National Tour of the Lincoln Center Production played at Chicago's Nederlander Theatre from May 28th through June 9th, 2019.  The cast of this production included Nick Adams (Whizzer), Eden Espinoza (Trina), Max von Essen (Marvin), and Nick Blaemire (Mendel).  The Lincoln Center Production was nominated for five Tony Awards, including the award for Best Revival of a Musical.  I left during intermission because I was not doing well and was going through active addiction.









     Besides the two reasons listed above, I left early because I didn't like the musical that much.  While I loved Eden Espinosa's rendition of "I'm Breaking Down,"  I didn't like the song "The March of the Falsettos."  It was neat to see Max von Essen in a show again.  The last musical I had seen him in was the 2012 Broadway Revival of "Evita,"  where he played Che the night I saw the show.  This was my first time seeing Eden Espinosa in a show.  My dad saw her play Elphaba in the San Francisco production of "Wicked" though.  








     David Rockwell was the scenic designer for this production.  He also designed the scenery for the touring production of "Kinky Boots."  Jennifer Caprio was the costume designer for this touring production, which ran from February 8th through June 30th, 2019.  Maybe if I saw this production now, I would enjoy it enough to stay until the end.  I suppose it is possible.  Nowadays I only leave during intermission if I can't find an emptier section of the theatre with empty seats on either side of me.  








     My dad was always understanding with me when I would leave a show halfway through.  He would pay for the ticket.  The least I could do was stay through the entire performance.  Granted, the cost of Broadway in Chicago ticket lottery seats were usually $30, including the processing fee.  But, now that I think of it, that is not inexpensive at all.  That is only a low amount of money when compared to a full-price ticket.  Thankfully, Dad (and Mom) would continue to buy theatre tickets for me.





Eden Espinosa as Trina (photo by Joan Marcus).






     If I had the chance to see "Falsettos" again, I might do just that.  I'm not certain I would though.  It was such a bizarre show though.  The first act was, at least.  Yet, who am I to crave normalcy in a musical.l?  I'm not exactly normal myself.  Well, I'm somewhat normal.  But I digress.  It was a funny shoe at times.  Yet, at times, the show would turn serious at the drop of a hat (or a slap in the face).  Yet I also wish I had stayed for the second act because of the characters who were not introduced until then.  But I didn't, so oh well... I guess.





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