BROADWAY SNAP-SHOT
by Russell Bouthiller

Dateline: July 5, 2006

TARZAN

Disney Theatrical Productions returns to Broadway for a fourth time with a grandiose and expensive retelling of the classic, TARZAN, now at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Based on the 1999 hit animated feature, British pop composer Phil Collins expands his five-song film score, which included the Oscar-winning "You'll Be in My Heart," into a full-blown Broadway musical.

Estimated to cost $12-15 million to launch, this pared-down version of Edgar Rice Burrough's "Tarzan of the Apes" has more swinging than a flashback to Plato's Retreat. Directed and designed by Bob Crowley (who took home this year's Tony Award for his set design of THE HISTORY BOYS), TARZAN incorporates the aerial designs of Pichon Baldinu with the more grounded choreography of Meryl Tankard.

Crowley's design concepts are cleverly intermingled with Baldinu's deft airborne handiwork which made his DE LA GUARDA an Off-Broadway sensation. With cast members swinging from vines and dangling from the ceiling, TARZAN certainly turns a few heads. Opening with the action-packed shipwreck sequence where we learn how the baby Tarzan becomes orphaned, David Henry Hwang's book takes us through a jungle journey full of tiresome adventure and bumper-sticker platitudes.

Unfolding in didactic, chapter-like fashion we follow Tarzan (Josh Strickland) from the moment he's taken in by his adoptive ape mother, Kala (Merle Dandridge), to his rejection by ape leader, Kerchak (Shuler Hensley), through his jungle camaraderie with the nimble Terk (Chester Gordan II), and, of course, his awakening to human emotion when he meets Jane (Jenn Gambatese).

All of this unfolds with lots of fluctuating from tree limbs, frothy Phil Collins tunes and an eye-popping parade of animal costumes and mechanisms spectacularly designed by Crowley and gorgeously lit by Natasha Katz. Unfortunately, it all comes off like a prelude to a theme-park ride at Disneyworld. The only thing missing is the humidity.

Josh Strickland, an "American Idol" alumnus, presents a Tarzan that could have used a few more pull-ups. Slight of body, though able of voice, he simply doesn't come off like much of a jungle dweller. Studious application of body contouring gives the added illusion, but his overall prettiness conjures up visions of South Beach, not the heart of Africa.

Jenn Gambatese, who stood out as the cross-dressing lead in the short-lived jukebox musical, ALL SHOOK UP, tries to make a few waves in the shallowness of her Jane Porter character. While no less adorable than her male counterpart—not the best thing here—there's something dreadfully lovable about her in a show that could use a few less coats of quaint.

Tony-winner Hensley is full-bodied and full-voiced as the leader of the pack. Dandridge succeeds admirably as the caring surrogate mother and Gordan peels all of his scenes like a ripe banana, particularly the second act opener "Trashin' the Camp." But, with all that cutesiness and the dazzling aerial artistry, the show comes off less like a Broadway musical and more like its original source material: a kid's cartoon. TARZAN, not for adults.