Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
The Golden Age of musicals was replete with unforgettable melodies, rich (if sometimes far-fetched) storytelling, and showstopping dance numbers—and whether that makes you groan or grin, Schmigadoon!’s modern twist on these
classics has something in it for you.
This world-premiere show is based on the Apple TV (and Emmy Award winning) television show by the same name, and the plot centers around two modern New York doctors on a couples’ retreat to save their relationship. While trying to find their way back to one another, Josh (Alex Brightman) and Melissa (Sara Chase) stumble into the magical town of Schmigadoon, where denizens are inexplicably in a real-life musical and the only escape is finding true love. Melissa is charmed and intrigued by these strange circumstances, explaining to the reticent Josh (and anyone in his camp in the audience) what musical lovers know to be true: The way musicals work is that “when you’re too emotional to talk, you sing; when you’re too emotional to sing, you dance.” In contrast, Josh spends the majority of the show going out of his way to avoid the town’s cues that it’s his turn to burst into song. And that’s a shame, because while Brightman’s deadpan portrayal of Josh leads to some great comedic moments, the part does not showcase the two-time Tony Award nominee’s considerable vocal chops.
Thankfully, other characters in the town don’t share Josh’s musical theater skepticism. Musical theater fans will no doubt find their brains lighting up at this dizzying tableau of classic musical mashups. The show skirts up to the line of copyright infringement, begging for every theater nerd in the house to count how many references to classic shows they can spy. The list includes, but is certainly not limited to: Carousel, The Sound of Music, Kiss Me Kate, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Music Man. The most obvious homage to the classics is the show’s title and opening number, which even the most casual of musical theater viewers may notice bears a striking resemblance to Oklahoma’s title song. Schmigadoon may not be where the wind comes sleeping down the plain, but suspiciously
familiarly costumed men and women (in bright gingham dresses and cowboy gear) let the audience know they’re in on the joke, explaining their town is a place “where the men are men and the cows are cows” and the “farmers smile as they push their plows.”
The show’s wink-wink/nudge-nudge, self-effacing humor allow both musical lovers and the Josh-like skeptics out there to unite. As for this musical theater fan, however, I especially enjoyed the uncanny similarity between Danny
Bailey (the wonderful Ryan Vasquez) and Carousel’s Billy Bigelow. Vasquez nails the part of this charming ruffian, who—like his Carousel counterpart—flirts with a passing woman at a carnival ride, displays both hegemonic masculinity and a gentle yearning for romance (complete with burst of pink blossoms), and impulsively decides that he loves said random carnival woman before succumbing to a sudden and violent end.
Other standout performances in the show include Betsy (McKenzie Kurtz), who delights the audience with her Ado-Annie-esque portrayal of a young woman exploring her power over men while her watchful father stands nearby with a shotgun. Mayor Menlove (Brad Oscar) gives a powerful performance while playing with the Golden Age’s different use for the word “gay,” and Emma Tate (Isabelle McCalla) delivers one of the best vocal performances in the show as the town’s schoolteacher. McCalla also has one of the biggest plot-reveals at the end of the show, in a Music Man moment with clear audience favorite and adorable eight year old, Ayaan Diop.
Schmigadoon! is parody at its finest, and this clever show may even make even the Joshiest-audience members want to sing, if only for a fun-filled couple of hours. The limited engagement goes through February 9th at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater.
FINAL GRADE: A
Schmigadoon! is now playing at the John F. Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre through February 9th. Run Time: TBA including one intermission. Ticket prices: $99-$315 – Tickets can be purchased HERE.
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