Review: FUN HOME is an Exquisite Show Unlike Any Other at the Fisher Theatre!

Fun Home is a show unlike any other. The one hour and forty minute without an intermission production transports the audience into the life of Alison Bechdel as she looks back on growing up. And hopefully, when it is over, they are changed from taking the journey with her.

Fun Home, set in a small town in Pennsylvania during the 1970s, tells the story of Bechdel's life and self-discovery as a lesbian simultaneously while depicting her relationship with her father who struggles with his sexuality and eventually, his suicide. The Tony Award winning show is groundbreaking as it is the first show with a lesbian lead and the first female winning writing team, but also very innovating in the way the show is constructed. Alison, as an adult, narrates the story as she tries to create the art of her life and it comes to life before her with her family on stage along with past forms of herself in small and medium versions.

Kate Shindle plays the role of Alison. She is outstanding. Shindle practically never leaves the stage during the entire performance and never lets the audience for a moment forget that she is not Alison Bechdel standing before them. The emotions that come out of the Shindle the audience can feel radiate no matter where they are in the theatre - when she laughs, they laugh; when she grieves, they grieve.

Abby Corrigan plays the role of Medium Alison. She is captivating to watch on stage with expressive eyes and powerful voice that takes the audience by surprise. The song "Changing My Major" is a show stopping number and is one that steals the show with not only comedic relief, but impressive, beautiful singing from Corrigan.

Alessandra Baldacchino plays Small Alison. She is endearing and sweet on stage with a pure voice. Her childlike wonder is a joy to watch and her talent is abundant. The moments when Shindle, Corrigan, and Baldacchino are all on stage together are some of the best moments of the show as they are the most fascinating to watch and the musically the most interesting to hear.

Fun Home is not the typical musical. Nor is it one that comes around often, but it is one worth seeing because it is different. It has an exquisite story, one unlike any other. Fun Home has a story to tell you and hopefully, when you leave you are changed from the journey you took with Alison.

Please note: not recommended for children under 13.

Fun Home is currently running until December 11th at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit. For more information or tickets, visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.

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