Review: FUN HOME at Straz Center For The Performing Arts

Fun Home is a coming-of-age musical about a lesbian and her repressed gay father, who teaches literature, manages the family funeral home and eventually commits suicide. The musical is based on the memoirs of writer/cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Bechdel's 2006 book and was adapted into a musical with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori.

The story focuses on Alison, performed by three different actors who portray her as Small Alison (Carly Gold), Medium Alison (Abby Corrigan) and Kate Shindle leading the cast as Alison. Alison provides commentary throughout the production. She remains in stealth mode in the background up to the last few scenes when she comes to life in her song "Telephone Wires." This is a powerful song about her final conversation with her closeted father before his suicide.

Robert Petkoff plays Alison's tortured father Bruce and Susan Moniz plays her all but invisible mother Helen. Victoria Janicki plays Alison's lover and stood out the most in believability in the role of her character Joan. All of the actors possessed the vocal abilities to embody their roles. The kids steal the show however, including the roles of Alison's brothers John (Henry Boshart) and Christian (Luke Barbato Smith).

The storyline is contemporary for today's audience and a story that needs to be told. This is a hit with the LGBT community but I personally found it lackluster. I think the show-stopper that came early in the production was "Come to the Fun Home," performed around a casket by Alison and her brothers mocking a commercial they are doing for the funeral home. "Changing My Major," sung by Middle Alison about her crush on her girlfriend Joan was sweet and funny. We finally get to hear the vocal talent of Susan Moniz in "Days and Days," a lament of her life wasted caring for her husband. The finale "Flying Away" is so bittersweet.

Justice would be better served to Fun Home if it were played in a smaller venue. It loses some quiet moments and tenderness that just get swallowed up in a big hall. There were several moments of long pauses that didn't lend itself to creativity as much as awkwardness. Some adjectives associated with this production that I have heard in the past were, gut-wrenching, impassioned and thrilling. I didn't feel it - maybe because of the house size, maybe because I wanted more character depth, more song and dance. Personal feelings aside, I think the relevant topic of this production is important and poignant, and the cast delivered a fine performance of life lessons we can all afford to consider.

Fun Home runs through December 3, 2017 in Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa. For more information visit www.strazcenter.org

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