NEWSIES Tour Fall 2014- Page 4

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 5/5/16 at 10:17pm

EvanK said: "Got my Tickets for Vancouver this summer! Very excited to finally see this. Love a good dance heavy musical! 

 

Any thoughts on current cast? This is still an equity tour right?

 

"

I got my ticket for the Vancouver leg too. So excited! Never seen it !

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 6/20/16 at 4:19pm

Bumping this to report on the current cast that I saw at a recent stop. While I can understand some of the negative comments earlier in this thread, I have to say my personal experience of the show was much more positive. No, it's not a deep, provocative piece of ART, but it's a joyful show, bursting with energy and charming in its utter lack of cynicism. Objectively speaking, some of the choreography (and story) does get repetitive, but damned if I didn't break into a grin and a cheer every time. The athletic energy just pours off the stage, and it's hard not to get caught up in it, or at least it was for me.

Joey Barreiro has taken over for Dan DeLuca, and I thought he did a wonderful job. Charismatic as a leader, has a lovely voice ("Santa Fe" is quite powerful in his hands), and brings out some of Jack's wry, boyish humor, not just the intensity. Morgan Keene is perfectly fine as Katherine, but I felt like she was missing a little of the sass and spunkiness I would have expected; for much of the first act, her Katherine seemed almost... bored. Kind of a flat sort of sarcasm, if that makes sense- although she did light up as the show went on. I feel like the love story in this show is one of those things you either like or you don't, and I for one thought it was cute and sweet, and Joey and Morgan had a soft sort of chemistry and vulnerability that made me buy into the idea that these two young people searching for a place in the world might find that search easier by each other's sides.

Especially for this show, I have to mention the ensemble. There's no way around the fact that the other newsies are just quirky characters who each have an easy-to-remember distinguishing mark (Race's cigars, Spec's... spectacles, etc.). But the sheer energy with which this company throws themselves into their roles makes the quirks charming and funny, not irritating. Watching them interact in the background of scenes or in group numbers, you really get the sense of camaraderie that the very premise of the show rests upon. They're youthful and playful and snarky. Also, there's one ensemble dancer, Jordan Samuels (Specs), who does these jumps and flips and just STAYS up in the air longer than any human should be able to float. Got huge cheers every time.

So, yeah, I had a wonderful time at this show. And I did find it relatable, not as a pro-union piece or whatever, but just the idea of young people trying to figure out how to move forward in the world and not being great at it but trying anyway. To me, that's relatable no matter the time and place.  

Updated On: 6/20/16 at 04:19 PM