BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: November 2, 2004

BROOKLYN: THE MUSICAL

Set in the shadow of New York's most famous bridge, Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson's BROOKLYN, THE MUSICAL takes us to the streets of the city's rough-hewn borough and delivers a warmhearted tale of discovery and redemption. Directed by Jeff Calhoun, who brought us last season's acclaimed revival of BIG RIVER, BROOKLYN, THE MUSICAL brings together an ensemble of powerful talents.

BROOKLYN opens with a troupe of five gritty, urban street performers who call themselves the City Weeds, led by a magical Streetsinger (Cleavant Derricks). Presenting the story as a performance piece for passersby, he tells the tale of Brooklyn (Eden Espinosa), a young girl in search of her father.

Born in Paris to a struggling singer, Faith (Karen Olivo), Brooklyn is named after the hometown of her father, Taylor (Kevin Anderson). Taylor returns to the States without ever knowing his lover is pregnant, leaving her with only an unfinished lullaby to hand down to the child. After years of waiting for her man's return, Faith's longing drives her to take her own life.

The orphaned Brooklyn is raised by nuns and grows up to become a great pop sensation. She travels to America in search of her father and the words to that lost lullaby. When she arrives in her namesake borough, she meets the fiercely competitive singer, Paradice (Ramona Keller). Reared on the streets of Brooklyn, Paradice claims to be the true voice of that borough and challenges Brooklyn to a competition at Madison Square Garden.

BROOKLYN, THE MUSICAL integrates an energetic score into an adorably improbable book that refreshingly steers clear of the standard love format. Instead, Schoenfeld and McPherson present a modern-day morality tale about coping with life's unexpected disappointments. All of this plays out amidst trash and refuse which, in turn, serves as the inspirations for very clever costumes by Tobin Ost and the foundation for Ray Klausen's inventive sets.

Broadway veteran Kevin Anderson (ORPHEUS DESCENDING, ORPHANS) makes a convincing indifferent father with a debilitating drug problem. His tussled good looks and whisper-cool delivery adds a pathetic irony to his tormented conscience. And the more rock-inspired number of the evening, "The Truth," utilized his dark style effectively.

Karen Olivo does a fine job as the abandoned Faith. Cleavant Derricks, Tony-winner from yesteryear's DREAMGIRLS, captivates the audience as Streetsinger. Derricks is simply enchanting every moment on stage and his "Magic Man" is one of the show's highlights. Still, we are left yearning for more of him by the evening's end.

Eden Espinosa, who gained recognition as Idina Menzel's understudy in WICKED, presents a charming, waif-like Brooklyn. Her tiny frame houses a powerhouse voice that's shown to great effect in the anthem, "Once Upon A Time." And, Ramona Keller (recently of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) as Paradice—named for the pair of dice found around her neck at birth—nearly steals the show with her "Superlover" and "Raven."

Jeff Calhouns's direction keeps the show moving at a brisk pace. His creative team has rendered a mise en scene that is sweet and smart. BROOKLYN, THE MUSICAL, a delightful addition to the new season, now at the Plymouth Theatre.