Groundhog Day Musical: Review (Spoilers)

Posted: 4/9/17 at 2:08pm

I have to admit, I almost didn't give Groundhog Day the Musical a chance. Yes, the West End production received good review from Brantley at the New York Times, but early reports here on Broadway where that it had turned in to gigantic mess....the mechanics weren't working and the entire cast was performing shows with no set, that the book was confusing and just not funny/borderline offensive. All this combined with the fact that the show is a screen to stage adaptation (which in my opinion is always reason to be cautious with your money ) just screamed, "skip this one". After seeing it tonight, however, I believe it to be the BEST BROADWAY MUSICAL OF THE 2016/17 season.

1) Because of Mr. Andy Karl. You know, I remember seeing him in Altar Boyz years back and thinking he was good, but never BROADWAY STAR. Over the years he's just proved what a terrific musical comedy performer he is. He understands the style of each piece he's in expertly....he's never the same person twice applying such great character choices to roles.  This is a career best! He is everything in Groundhog Day....a misogynistic pig of a man who finds the truly funny and likability in the role. He creates a journey through signing and dancing the gamat of musical theater styles (even some screaming belty 80's hair band rock). He nails every bit, every one liner, every life changing moment until you really feel for this character (you see the progression into a new person by the end of the show). He doesn't make a false move...The Tony Award should go to him this year....because of the difficulty of the role and the nuance of comedy/ drama skills he uses throughout. 

2) The Book by Danny Rubin. The way in which he has structured the show is the smartest I've seen in years. Choosing just the right moments to repeat so we don't have to see the entire day again and again. The way he also had has sure to show Phil changes for the better from day to day. And the way he's also introduced the audience to an entire small town of people and their problems by the end of the show as well as develop a central romance. His tonal switch from musical comedy to serious drama is masterful....the jokes are funny, adult (without being offensive). Dany Rubin should win the Tony Award for this. The best musical comedy book in years.

3) The Direction and Musical Staging....Matthew Warchus is already a well known award winning director, but he's outdone himself here. His work with the tone shifting from musical comedy to dramatic is so hard to pull off...he does it so it feels like real life which switches from humor to sorrow all in the course of the day. The way the show moves is like being on a joyride, the fun seems to never end, but when it needs to be quiet or more serious it is. He understand the balance the audience needs to follow a great story. Tons of great theater magic tricks with how the day starts over and over again and getting andy karl back to the same hotel room bed dozens of times creatively. A really funny and fantastically staged theatrical car chase. The best use of a turn table i have never seen in a musical. They almost never work well....here it becomes a character...the mechanism in which the day moves back and forth so quick and easily. Peter Darling's musical staging is skillful. His use of the townspeople dancing all from character is funny and story driven. But the way it helps move the show from place to place is just expertly thought out....rewinds, flashbacks, fast forwards, changes of perspective.   This man understands dance and movement from every level it can happen.  The final scene that takes place at the Groundhog Day Dance is shifted to a snowstorm in one a beautify the most beautiful ways I've seen. 

4) The set (almost nothing) feels like it is EVERYTHING...at both times it's got a sense of humor and poetry, The lighting is superb and creative...Mostly ln the form of a winter night with all the unique color brought in coming from the events at hand, it is character here as well.

5) the cast is great. All different types and ethnicities here really working hard to make sure each day is the same every time, not easy, they make it look easy. I'd say its the best new ensemble working on a Broadway stage this year as well.

The show is not perfect though, The music and lyrics by Tim Minchin feels like B material. The songs are mainly chorus numbers with short solos scattered throughout. The result is fragmented, it never feels like a full journey is being had through the songs. The sound feels dated, using 80's and 90's pop rock ideas and styles...I guess they felt like it fit the time period of the songs. It gets tedious.  The lyrics are worst part. They lack wit, rhyme, timing of jokes, they are pedestrian and amateurish.  The nights two best songs  "playing nancy" and "night will come" could literally be cut from the show (and possibly still should because of length) because they come from side characters and are introspections about them individually and don't provide any story forwarding elements. Combining them in an act 2 opening number where the audience gets to know all the characters they've met so far more personally  could fix this. In the end it all works in the end because the wonderful structure of the script itself.

Barrett Doss as the leading lady Rita Hanson is the weak link here. She has all the elements and is working hard, but doesn't seem to confidently display them here. Her singing is second rate, her acting is what you'd expect from a musical theater performer (she doesn't find nuance or make bold character choices). She feels like the understudy. I couldn't help but think what a performer like Sara Ramirez would have done with the role.

I highly recommend this show for Musical Comedy lovers...for me it was at the most entertaining and well made show of the year on Broadway in a season of LOTS of new musicals without much style or substance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 2:09pm

Here ya go: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?page=16&thread=1099745&dt=383