Review: NEWSIES at Aronoff Never Stops Moving for Better or Worse

Disney's NEWSIES is a high-energy powerhouse of dancing, gymnastics, and rafter-raising singing. If you have ever enjoyed a Disney film in which a ragtag group of underdogs overpower "the establishment," then you'll know exactly what to expect from this storyline -- but that doesn't mean you won't be smiling and tapping your toes the whole time.

Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, the production stays relatively faithful to its source material, inspired by the factual newsboys' strikes of 1899. Faced with a price increase from publishing giants Pulitzer and Hearst, New York City newsboys banded together and nearly shut down the city for two weeks. They endured terrible violence and risked their livelihoods, but eventually the titans were forced to offer a compromise.

The musical veers from fact by creating a few new characters, including the boys' ringleader, Jack Kelly. A physically and vocally demanding role, Joey Barreiro fills it to the brim with bravado, charisma, and the right amount of fear and loathing for a boy who has grown up on the streets. Equally fictional is the character of Katherine, not just the love interest but an aspiring reporter who happens to be the daughter of Pulitzer himself. In the role, Morgan Keene displays an incredibly focused and well-supported singing voice. Her speaking, however, fell into a distractingly unnatural lilt which often disrupted her comedic timing. Stephen Michael Langton delivered a solid performance as Davey, Jack's level-headed partner in leading the strike.

The standout for me was Zachary Sayle as Crutchie. By his third line in the opening song, he had me in the palm of his hand. A perfect combination of earnestness and humor, and with a simply beautiful voice, my only complaint was that he spent most of the second act locked up and enjoyed little stage time.

This is a Disney Theatrical Production, so of course the style is beyond compare. Christopher Gattelli's choreography is gravity-defying and left me exhausted just watching. Tobin Ost's gymnasium-like set evokes industrial-era New York City skyscrapers while providing a playground for the boys' acrobatics. Jeff Calhoun's direction keeps things moving at all times.

In fact, that is the production's biggest flaw. In an effort to wow us with a constant barrage of leaps and spins and high notes and costumes, the show underestimates how powerful it could be. The subject matter could not be more timely: debates over fair wages and unions; the corruption of a system making money off of people being removed from society "for public safety"; the desperate struggle by the media to garner the public's attention and dollars; the class divide.

It is perhaps unfair to compare the stage version to the movie, but the moment I missed the most illustrates what the stage production misses overall. It is when the boys have begun to doubt their decision to strike, realizing that they may be the only group of Newsies protesting and therefore effectively powerless. Davey, who until this point has been meek and mild, stands perfectly still and, as though filled with divine inspiration, begins singing the iconic anthem, "Seize the Day." It is a quiet yet powerful moment of growth for the character, and a necessary calm before the storm that is the following ensemble dance number. The musical, unfortunately, does not allow for that moment of stillness, instead staging Davey to walk from person to person, and quickly. Without taking that moment to breathe, the audience doesn't have the opportunity to grasp the true gravity of what the boys are doing. The duality of fear and courage never sets in, instead rushing us into another glossy parade of dance trick after dance trick.

They are amazing dance tricks, to be sure. And most people will probably determine that I'm expecting too much from a family-friendly Disney musical, which should be an escape from the tumultuous political climate of today. To quote a line from the show, "Where better to escape trouble than a theater?"

So if you liked the 1992 movie, you will enjoy this production. If you like upbeat, dance-heavy musicals with strong voices, you will enjoy this production. If, however, you prefer profound pieces of art that leave you pondering life and our place in it, well, you may leave this production feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Disney's NEWSIES runs at the Aronoff Center for the Arts from March 1-13. Tickets can be ordered by calling 513.621.ARTS or visiting http://cincinnati.broadway.com

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