BWW Reviews: IF/THEN at Aronoff features great talent, but loses its way

IF/THEN begins well enough with a compelling musical number. The song "What If?" weaves a tapestry of tight harmonies and interesting staging. It immediately establishes the premise: a woman paralyzed by the song's title question proceeds to live out two possible life paths for the audience. Think "Sliding Doors," but with more supporting characters and a lot more songs. Unfortunately, this ambitious multi-layered premise proves too much for the authors, and the show ultimately loses its way.

This is the first national tour, and production value is top-notch. The staging is impeccable. Mark Wendland's simple and fast-moving set perfectly captures Central Park, a subway car, apartments, fire escapes, and bridges. The scenes flow seamlessly from one location to another, thanks in part to the ingenious set but also to flawlessly staged transitions and effective use of a turntable.

The cast is strong, with a powerhouse performance by Jackie Burns as Elizabeth, or Liz and Beth as she is differentiated in each of her possible lives. The role was originated by Idina Menzel and consists of the kind of vocal Olympics Menzel is known for. Burns more than fills those shoes, hitting every gravity-defying note with ease-something not always said of her predecessor. Anthony Rapp, as friend Lucas, gives a refreshingly understated performance. In one storyline he also thankfully makes the pining-best-friend archetype endearingly pathetic as opposed to obsessively clingy. Matthew Hydzik hits all the right notes as romantic interest Josh, but the script doesn't allow him to be more interesting than Mr. Perfect. As free-spirited Kate, Tamyra Gray came on a little strong in the beginning, but settled into her performance by the end of the first act.

The overall problem with the show is that it tries to do too much. By offering two distinct and parallel storylines, it creates double the emotional catharses which inspire a song. Seeing as the show is about Elizabeth's life and its possible outcomes, her dual journeys should have been enough. But the authors spend time on Elizabeth's friends as well-Lucas and his two possible romantic lives, Kate and her girlfriend Anne and their two possible futures. With a 90-minute first act, I began to shift in my seat every time a supporting character began a song. I wanted stay with the heart of the story: Elizabeth.

The problem was exacerbated by the fact that I did not find many songs to be memorable. This surprised me, coming from Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, the team behind NEXT TO NORMAL which was incredibly poignant but still catchy and "singable." I was also surprised by how mundane I found Elizabeth's struggles, after the authors' previous work had so deftly captured the rawness of a woman's mental illness and family dysfunction. The overdone conflict of love or career, as though a woman today cannot have both, was unsatisfying to say the least. When melodramatic plot twists appeared in the second act, this show made its way to the list of productions I am glad to have seen but do not need to see again.

One line caught my attention as the production drew to its rather forced denouement: "Live one life; Let the rest go." With so many storylines and songs competing for my attention, it seems the authors would have benefitted from heeding their own character's advice. Elizabeth's two journeys were plenty of material for a show; they could have let the rest go.

All this being said, I encourage people to attend this production. It is a rare thing these days to see a new musical-even more so one that is not based on a movie-and that in itself is exciting. The production value is impressive, and the talent superb. And for a show centered around the two different results possible from one moment, it seems appropriate to ask: What if you think it's perfect?

IF/THEN runs until February 7 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Tickets can be ordered by calling 513.621.ARTS or visiting http://cincinnati.broadway.com

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