Review: NEWSIES is a Rollicking Good Time, If You Turn Off Your Brain

I will admit to the fact that the original 1992 film of "Newsies" is one of my guilty pleasures. So when I heard they were making a stage version of the musical I was dubious but excited. The original already made you overlook much of the schlock, cheese, historical inaccuracies and plot holes. But the stage version, currently at the Paramount Theatre, with its retooled story forces even more of a willing suspension of disbelief almost to the point of brain death. But if you can manage that level of tucking rational thought into some dark corner then you're bound to have a good time as this spectacle is loaded with tons of vibrancy and a bevy of cute "boys" who sure do sing and dance pretty.

Very loosely based on the New York City Newsboys Strike of 1899 we follow Jack Kelly (Joey Barreiro) and the other Newsboys who work for Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper, The World. Pulitzer (Steve Blanchard) decides he's not making enough money so he raises the price that he charges the Newsies to buy his papers so they can sell them. This truly evil, mustache twirling, cartoon villain action causes Jack and his new friend Davey (Stephen Michael Langton) to organize the Newsies to put down their papers and strike until Pulitzer relents. This garners the attention of up and coming reporter Katherine (Morgan Keene) who not only gets the boys' message heard but also falls for the dashing Jack. But will the Newsies prevail or will they all be sent to the refuge like Jack's crippled friend Crutchie (Zachary Sayle)? Spoiler alert: Of course they will. This is Disney.

As I said the original movie with its rousing songs from Alan Menken and Jack Feldman and exuberant choreography from Kenny Ortega was cheesy enough but fun. But they took a passable bit of fluff and added even more plot holes and inconsistencies. Broadway legend Harvey Fierstein penned a new book for it and chose to combine the love interest for Jack (who used to be Davey's Sister) with the reporter character. But um, if she's a female reporter in 1899 struggling to make it then she's been working at this for some time. So she's at least in her mid-twenties and Jack is supposed to be 17. Ewwwwww! But everyone overlooks that. Also overlooked is that these are all supposed to be kids but they have cast it with the hunkiest ADULT male dancers (which I'm sure is part of the show's success). Plus they've mucked with the story so much and the order of the numbers lifted from the movie that we lose a lot of what is driving the main character toward his goals. Before he was a lost boy searching for a place to belong and now he's a caricature sticking it to the man because it's fun.

But as much as I complain and lament the alterations from the original it's still a super fun show. The new choreography from Christopher Gattelli is just as exuberant and full of leaps as the original and sometimes even more so. The cast is tons of fun and yes, easy on the eyes (oh wait, they're children! ... oh, no they're not ... I'm so confused). Barreiro has a great voice and a devilish twinkle to him that makes you totally root for this do-gooder bad boy. Sayle brings a tear to everyone's eye as the adorable damaged boy with his "Letter from the Refuge". Keene is plucky and fun just as this character should be. Aisha de Haas has a big boisterous number that rocks the place as Medda Larkin (although her part has been made nearly superfluous). I have to mention Turner Birthisel who played Davey's little brother Les (and the only real child in the cast) who managed oodles of awwww-inducing moments. And of course there are those ensemble dancers who do things that should not be possible assuming you subscribe to the laws of the physical universe.

So if you can just turn off your brain, settle in and watch the oh so pretty spectacle you'll have a great time. But if you are stuck on the original like I am then you might have a more difficult time but I'm sure that will pass and you'll still have a blast. I did. Which is why with my three letter rating system I give "Newsies" a YAY-. Sure it's cheesy and unbelievable but just keep telling yourself, "Aw, shut up and enjoy it!"

"Newsies" performs at the Paramount Theatre through May 1st. For tickets or information visit Seattle Theatre Group online at www.stgpresents.org.

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