Homeless at the turn of the century, New York City newsboy Jack Kelly is a big city boy dreaming of a life of small town contentment far from the struggle of the streets. But when newspaper magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst decide to raise the distribution price paid by the newsies, Jack finds his heroic nature pulled into rallying newsboys from across the city into the battle that ultimately became the beginning of the child labor movement.
From real-life event to book, and then to a 1992 film starring Christian Bale and Bill Pullman, this production is surprisingly the first adaptation for the stage. Although initially intended for a short run off-Broadway, dedicated fans called “Fansies” pulled a twitter takeover to propel this show to a national tour.
A three ring circus comes to mind as three massive towers turn around the stage, crawling with strong young men singing their hearts out about love, ambition and the struggle of the streets. Fantasy and reality combine as projections flash across the screens, and the Tony award winning choreography fills the space with precision and gusto.
Although replete with high flying kicks, acrobatics and precisely executed spins, I found the dancing too pretty. The rough and grimy nature of these boys from the streets did not translate into the ballet moves sprinkled with Broadway flair. Perfection became boring, as no dancer stood out. This is a show on tour, however, and so compromises may have been made between choosing the touring cast versus the original Broadway cast.
Fans of the movie will notice some major changes in the characters as well as minor ones in the storytelling. Thankfully all of the major beloved songs such as “Carrying the Banner”, “King of New York”, “Santa Fe” “Seize the Day” and “Once and for All” are still featured in this adaptation and are more enjoyable than ever! Alan Menken teamed up with Jack Feldman to add a few more songs to their score, and won a Tony award for their work. The songs serve well in tightening up the story that occasionally drags in the film.
The biggest change in character is that of the reporter who brings the newsies’ strike to public attention. Played by Bill Pullman in the film, the reporter has been merged with Jack’s love interest and is now played by Stephanie Styles. The Disney influence shines through most strongly in this character, as she is the essence of the modern Disney princess, here trying to make her mark in the newspaper business, an insurmountable task in Victorian America. Spunky and sweet, this new banner carrier for Jack’s cause is a delightful change from the limp accessory tacked on as a love interest in the film.
Younger viewers will appreciate the perspective of Les, the littlest newsie, who has more guts than the biggest of them. Sassy and hilarious, Les, played alternately by reflects the current generation with perfection.
A subtle yet effective character change lies in the casting of Angela Grovey as Jack’s ally and cabaret singer Medda Larkin. Played by Ann-Margret in the film, Ms. Grovey gives this role an entirely new flavor reminiscent of Queen Latifah’s boisterous role as the entertaining prison matron in the 2002 film “Chicago”. A breath of fresh air in this period tale, I instantly felt Ms. Grovey was speaking to the audience, bringing us in to the story as if it were our own. Her vibrant presence, strong voice and comic wit invite the audience into the surprisingly modern struggle.
Broadway in Chicago presents Disney’s “Newsies” through January 4, 2015 at the Oriental Theatre. Tickets range from $40-$130 and are available by calling 800-775-2000 or online atwww.BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information on the show visit NewsiesTheMusical.com/Tour, Facebook.com/Newsies and Twitter.com/Newsies.
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