Mary Damiano

Understudy Caskey stepped into the role of Neil – Then on opening night and, watching him, it was hard to imagine anyone better in the role. Caskey gets the young Diamond’s singing style right, with his enunciation and whole embrace of vowels. Caskey has plenty of charisma, just like Neil Diamond, and the scenes where he performs concert-style are dynamic — especially “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show,” in which he hypnotically engages the audience.

Hannah Shankman has the needed pluckiness and resolve to play Fanny. Shankman also possesses a powerful singing voice, and wow, can she hold a note. Unfortunately, sometimes she talks so fast it’s hard to understand what she’s saying. She also lacks the needed stage presence for such a big role, and often just gets lost in the big production numbers.

“Mrs. Doubtfire” can work only if the leading man is up to the challenge of the quick, on-stage character and costume changes, the physical comedy, and the many voices and impressions required. Jonathan Hoover alternates the role with Alex Branton, and Hoover’s opening night performance was brilliant, bouncing between Daniel’s manic, harried nature and Mrs. Doubtfire’s relative calm, although some of the best moments are when Daniel shows through Mrs. Doubtfire’s veneer.

Honestly, it would be hard to do a bad production of “Mamma Mia!,” the grandmama of modern jukebox musicals, if even marginally talented people were involved. The ABBA songs and the story are so masterfully shaped around each other that if one did not know better, they would believe that the songs were written for the musical. And the audience is so taken by the ABBA songs — they don’t just walk out of the show singing the songs, they go in singing them, too — that they’re already in a happy, upbeat mood.

Collette is a whirling dervish of hilarity as Beetlejuice, Esler’s portrayal of goth teen Lydia is rich and textured. Goldfarb is appropriately milquetoast as Adam, although he summons some gumption in the second act. McGinnis, as Barbara, is perfectly paired with Goldfarb. Sharp is terrific as Charles, especially in his tear-jerking scene with Lydia when they reconcile and sing “Home.” Litzsinger is a joy as spacey Delia.