William Finn and James Lapine's groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical FALSETTOS comes back to Broadway this fall in an all new production from Lincoln Center Theater. Lapine returns to direct an extraordinary cast featuring Stephanie J. Block (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Tony nom.), Christian Borle (Something Rotten!, Tony Award), Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, Tony nom), Anthony Rosenthal, Tracie Thoms, Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris, Tony nom.) and Betsy Wolfe.
FALSETTOS revolves around the life of a charming, intelligent, neurotic gay man named Marvin, his wife, lover, about-to-be-Bar-Mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbians next door. It's a hilarious and achingly poignant look at the infinite possibilities that make up a modern family... and a beautiful reminder that love can tell a million stories.
Not because this revival isn't terrific - it is, mostly. It's got tons of heart, unimpeachable performances by a cast of seven including the best kid actor since Fun Home's Sydney Lucas. But while the production - staged by James Lapine, who also wrote the book for the show, scored by William Finn (both won Tonys for their work) - left me teary in all the right places, and laughing in all the other right places, it never actually took flight. It's earthbound.
The Broadway revival is not a copy of the original - some lyrics have changed, some emphases. Neither is it a faultless work. The set, by David Rockwell, with its chintzy cutouts of the Manhattan skyline and peculiar cube of furniture, is one of the ugliest to galumph onto the stage in recent years. Spencer Liff's choreography has some spry moments, like a dance that draws on bullfighting and Greco-Roman wrestling, but at other times seems oddly reticent. And while Borle is not precisely miscast, the role only rarely allows him to display his great strengths - his madcap comic verve, his brassy tenor. Other actors are better suited, particularly Uranowitz, who delivers a superb Mendel.
1992 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2016 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
2019 | US Tour |
US Revival Tour US Tour |
2019 | West End |
West End European Premiere West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Brandon Uranowitz |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Stephanie J. Block |
2017 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Falsettos |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Christian Borle |
2017 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Falsettos |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Christian Borle |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Andrew Rannells |
2017 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Stephanie J. Block |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Andrew Rannells |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Brandon Uranowitz |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Christian Borle |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Stephanie J. Block |
2017 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Falsettos |
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