BWW Reviews: NEWSIES at the National Theatre - WOW...Does It Deliver!

The first time I saw a snippet of this Disney produced musical based on the 1992 film (which I had always enjoyed) was on the Macy's "Thanksgiving Day Parade". I knew then that I had to see this show and it was exactly what I expected. It features a remarkable ensemble, amazing athletic dancing thanks to the Tony-winning choreography of Christopher Gattelli who has commented that the show has no chorus, they are all characters with individuals names. (See Nelson Pressley's great article in the June 5 Washington Post) . There are incredible defying gravity leaps, high-flying splits, standing back flips, cartwheels, somersaults, pirouettes, tumbling, and even tap dancing. I just loved watching them dance on newspapers. How clever!

The memorable Tony winning sweeping score by the marvelous Alan Mencken (Catch a wonderful edition of the television show "Theater Week" which features Mencken at the piano playing his greatest hits...and there are many.) with lyrics by Jack Feldman.

Harvey Fierstein did the book and there is much about the exploitation of young workers all over New York in 1899, the importance of unions, and the benefits of strikes (the long-running trolley strike is the front page story in all the papers) to overcome the power of newspaper titans like Joseph Pulitzer (Steve Blanchard). It certainly introduces these topics to the young crowd as did the Elton John musical BILLY ELLIOT.

It is so gratifying to see such a young audience who yelled and whooped throughout the evening. The charismatic leader of the of the newsboys is Jack Kelly (the charismatic Dan DeLuca who has a great future ). Jack was played by Jeremy Jordon (so terrific in the film of Jason Robert Brown's "The Last Five Years") in the original Broadway production which started at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey. Many of the newsboys are orphans and a female patron at intermission suggested the play is like a "male" ANNIE. It is interesting to note that while President Franklin Delano Roosevelt played a role in ANNIE, his distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt (Kevin Carolan) appears in NEWSIES as the Governor of New York.

The musical is based on the true story of how the "evil" Pulitzer, the owner of the The World newspaper, takes advantage of his young underpaid newspaper delivery boys by raising the cost of the papers to them. The young lads are also charged for any papers they don't sell. Remember, this is before child labor laws were introduced.

It is Jack who is assisted by a young female newspaper reporter Katherine (Stephanie Styles) to help expose the plight of the young newsies. Styles gets to perform one of the great numbers of the show "Watch What Happens".

Jack's right hand man, the brains of the group, is Davey (played by the amiable Jacob Kemp who reminded me of the character "Motel" in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF). During the evening, Davey becomes a pivotal part in the transformation of the "urchins" into fist bumping "strikers". His younger brother Les (played by the adorable, charming and precocious 9 year old Vincent Crocilla) will remind you of "Gavroche" from LES MISERABLES (Crocilla actually played the part when he was younger). Anthony Rosenthal shares this role.

Other stand-outs are Zachary Sayle as "Crutchie" who sings a lovely duet with DeLuca called "Letter from the Refuge", a new tune written for the tour. Angela Grovey plays the saloon crooner Medda Larkin who befriends Jack and the boys.

Jeff Calhoun does a superb job as Director moving his many minions of newsboys who fly all over the stage and the incredible erector-style set which is comprised of three large towers which rise more than 24 feet high and moved 14 feet up and down the stage. When Tobin Ost's clever set moves downstage toward the audience filled with the newsies there was great cheering. Jess Goldstien did the costumes, Jeff Croitier did the great lighting, Ken Travis did the powerful sound design, and Daniel Brodie was responsible for the clever projections.

There are production numbers which bring down the house. They are "Seize the Day", "The World Will Know" and "King of New York" which opens Act II. I also loved the ballad "Santa Fe" sung by Jack about his dreams about escaping the rat race of New York for the southwest.

There are only twelve musicians in the orchestra pit buy they sound like many more. Conductor James Dodgson leads the talented crew. If you look in the pit, you won't see the percussion because they are tucked away under the stage.

It was so wonderful to see so many young people in the audience. The shrieks and squeals were deafening. I'm sure these young people will return to see more musicals in the future.

This is a show for everyone. Bring the kids.

Check out www.newsiesthemusical.com

There are many items to purchase as souvenirs. I loved the magnet ($10) and for only $5 more on any purchase, you can get your very own NEWSIES bag to carry your own papers. (Yes, I got both).

NEWSIES runs until June 21, 2015 For tickets call 202-626-6161 or visit thenationaldc.org. They also offer $25 tickets via a lottery system for any tickets available two hours before each show

For my friends and family in Boston, NEWSIES plays at the Opera House from June 23 to July 5. If you can't make it to the National, the closest return to the area will be in Richmond, VA playing Nov. 3-8.

Coming next season to the National are CINDERLLA, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, ANNIE, JERSEY BOYS, and THE WIZARD OF OZ. For subscriptions, call 855-486-2516.

Dinner Option

A new addition to the restaurant scene just opened on May 5, 2015 one block from the National Theatre, Mastro's Steakhouse in the space where M & S Grill was located at 600 13th Street. It has outlets in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois and California. We were in a hurry and just sampled some appetizers which were wonderful, the lobster bisque, crab cake, and scallops. Everyone there was very accommodating and I highly recommend it. We were also treated for some wonderful entertainment by singer song writer Julia Fanning. Visit www.juliafanningmusic.com. For reservations, call 202-347-1500.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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