Keegan Theatre: Falsettos

"Falsettos" is a particular story told when the plague was fresh.  Told from a decidedly Jewish perspective.  Told by a man who risked losing his traditional family in order to be his authentic self, and then lost the one true love of his life to AIDS.  It's told almost entirely through song, and it's over two hours in length.  Yet, it doesn't feel like two hours because the story told is so relatable, so relevant even decades after its creation.  I knew that the music and lyrics were written by the recently deceased (May ) William Finn, and yet at some point the second act I thought, this has got to have the hand of Stephen Sondheim on it.  Then I saw at the end that the book was co-written by James Lapine--and it totally made sense.

The cast was wonderful.  The only exception was the child actor, Nico Cabrera.  His voice was so freaking nasal that it was almost a caricature of the annoying child's voice.  But I wanted this to not be a distraction SO BADLY, that I was able to put it in a safe box and just let it be what it was.  Kate McManus as Trina, the mother, was funny, furtive and forgiving in turns using her beautiful voice to tap the full range of the character's emotions.  John Laughney, as Marvin, the now Gay father, brought is his A-game talent to the role.  In the very end as he stands weeping over the coffin of his lover, there wasn't a dry eye in the house.  Top praise goes to Ryan Burke as the therapist who goes from treating Marvin to marrying Trina.  His was the glue that held everything together, and he certainly, consistently had the funniest lines.  It is an exquisitely well written libretto and he demonstrated a comic timing that was nothing short of genius.

A powerful show presented in a powerfully beautiful way.

The opening number: "Four Jews In A Room Bitching"

First Act cast: L-R Mendel the therapist (Ryan Burke), Whizzer the gay lover (Kaylen Morgan), Marvin the Father now Lover (John Loughney), Trina the Mother (Katie McManus) and Jason the Son (Nico Cabrera)

"Trina's Song"

"Making A Home"

"Falsettoland / It's About Time"  Act II adds two characters, far L: Dr. Charlotte (Shayla Lowe) and Cordelia her Lesbian Lover (Kylie Clare Truby)

"The Year Of The Child"

"The Baseball Game"

"Everyone Hates His Parents"

"Racquetball"  During this number's reprise, Whizzer collapses

"Days Like This"

"Unlikely Lovers"

"Jason's Bar Mitzvah"

"What Would I Do" after Whizzer's death