Review: IF/THEN at Starlight Theatre

"If/Then," now playing through Sunday at the Starlight Theatre, is a show the audience wants to love. It is chock full of big songs, great performances, and memorable dancing. Sets are cleverly designed to resemble impressionist versions of everyday New York big city locations that have the ability to gracefully and seamlessly transform one into the next. Orchestrations are lush and fully realized.

"If/Then" is a 2014-2015 musical play by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt. It ran just a few performances short of one year at the Richard Rodgers Theater. The star of the play (in a dual role) was the incredible Broadway Baby Idina Menzel. Ms. Menzel was the originAl Green witch (Elphaba) in "Wicked," Maureen in "Rent," and the voice of Elsa in Disney's "Frozen." A tour version of "If,Then" kicked off immediately following the Broadway run.

The tour has now hit Kansas City for the first time, but Ms. Menzel has gone on to other ventures. For "If/Then," the star's departure is a problem. This is not to suggest that replacement artists are in any way less capable, but the audience has the definite impression that "If/Then" was written expressly for its original lead singer. That is OK. The Broadway audience got what it paid for; Idina Menzel. Less important to the New York audience is the cohesiveness of the rest of the show.

Tour audiences see "If/Then" from a more holistic perspective. The script tries to follow one of two possible life paths for its main character at almost the same time. For these audiences, "If /Then" is about the road less taken and new beginnings. The result is a little confused.

"Elizabeth" is a newly divorced urban planner plunging back into the work force. Two possible working paths and three possible love connections are offered to her. Each of the working paths features a set of glasses and a nickname on her actual moniker.

"Liz" is the first offered path in a non-profit fighting for the little guy. "Beth" represents the second offered path as a highly regarded maker and shaker urban planner.

Love connections for "Elizabeth" are somewhat problematic. "As "Liz" she may be falling for her gay friend "Lucas," or for a military reserve surgeon named "Josh." As "Beth" she may be falling for her married boss, Stephen. To further complicate, Josh has introduced Lucas to a male pediatric surgeon and they become a couple. Stephen resists "Liz," but finally divorces his wife. To further mix things up, Josh is killed while on active military duty and Elizabeth has had a child by which one of her male friends is a bit uncertain. One thing is certain. By the end of the show Elizabeth is ready to start over.

The music for "If/Then" is uniformly huge ballads. The transitions between life paths are a little difficult to follow. And that is the problem with "If/Then." It is difficult to follow. If you want to hear huge voices, supported by interesting choreography, "If/Then" may be the show for you.

"If/Then continues through July 31 at Starlight Theatre.

Photo courtesy of Starlight Theatre