LondonTheatre1

London Theatre: Tickets Reviews | News | West End | Off-West End | UK Touring Productions

London Theatre Tickets
  • Home
  • Top Selling Shows
    • Musicals
    • & Juliet
    • Anything Goes
    • Back To The Future
    • Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
    • Come From Away
    • Dear Evan Hansen
    • Dirty Dancing
    • Frozen The Musical
    • Heathers
    • Jersey Boys
    • Les Misérables
    • Mamma Mia
    • Mary Poppins
    • Matilda the Musical
    • My Fair Lady
    • Moulin Rouge
    • Only Fools and Horses
    • Pretty Woman the Musical
    • Six the Musical
    • The Book of Mormon
    • The Drifters Girl
    • The Lion King
    • The Phantom of the Opera
    • Tina the Musical
    • Wicked
    • Popular Plays in London
      • A Christmas Carol
      • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
      • The Mousetrap
      • The Woman in Black
      • Witness for the Prosecution
    • London Theatres
      • Seating Plans
      • Adelphi Theatre
      • Ambassadors Theatre
      • Duke of York’s Theatre
      • Fortune Theatre
      • Harold Pinter Theatre
      • Lyceum Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre
      • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
      • Piccadilly Theatre
      • Richmond Theatre
      • Trafalgar Theatre
  • News
    • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • ATG Tickets
    • Alexandra Theatre
    • Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
    • Brighton Theatre Royal
    • Bristol Hippodrome
      • Bristol Theatre Seating Plan
    • Edinburgh Playhouse
    • Glasgow Theatre Royal
    • Grand Opera House York
    • King’s Theatre Glasgow
    • Kit Kat Club London
    • Leas Cliff Hall
    • Liverpool Empire
    • Manchester Opera House
    • Manchester Palace Theatre
    • Milton Keynes Theatre
    • New Theatre Oxford
    • New Victoria Theatre Woking
    • New Wimbledon Theatre
    • New Wimbledon Theatre Studio
    • Princess Theatre Torquay
    • Regent Theatre Stoke
    • Rhoda McGaw Theatre
    • Richmond Theatre
    • Stockton Globe
    • Sunderland Empire
    • Swansea Arena
    • Victoria Hall Hanley Stoke
  • Dancewear
  • Newsletter
Home » Reviews » Musical » Review of Falsettos at The Other Palace

Review of Falsettos at The Other Palace

September 6, 2019 Last updated: September 6, 2019 8:00 pm By Ben Powell

Laura Pitt-Pulford (Trina) - Falsettos - The Other Palace - Photos By The Standout Company
Laura Pitt-Pulford (Trina) – Falsettos – The Other Palace – Photos By The Standout Company

Originally written as the two one-act shows ‘March of the Falsettos’ and ‘Falsettoland’, themselves written as sequels to ‘In Trousers’, Falsettos is one of the premier works of veteran composer William Finn, and his long-term collaborator James Lapine.

The show tells the story of Marvin, a middle-aged Jewish man as he explores his latent homosexuality, all the while determined to maintain a tight-knit family. It often feels like the narrative is rocketing by, only stopping in with the characters at the most pivotal points; the result being less of a feeling of story told and more like browsing an old family photo album.

The set is well-designed, with side frames forming extensions to the minimalist on stage setting a lovely idea, although the pixelisation on the projections let it down ever so slightly. Block colours and simple patterns on costumes continue the simple but effective design.

Sung-through, Finn’s music shines with the joyous neurosis of his writing present at all times. With that said, and much as I love Finn’s music, I needed a little less of it as I found myself feeling a little melodically exhausted at points and wondered whether some of the finer points of Marvin’s journey may have benefitted from the freedom of exploration without accompaniment, especially when written alongside the great Lapine.

Tonally, the show works well for the most part; the irreverent, at times even flippant, NYC humour sits well alongside the dry, sarcastic wit Britain oft prides itself for and some of the greatest comic moments land at the height of those awkward moments we can all relate to (well, maybe not all of us – my ex hasn’t slept with my psychiatrist quite yet!) It does, however, seem to flit between naturalism and caricature in storytelling as each number arrives. This, along with the sadly underdeveloped roles of Cordelia and Charlotte and the presence of ‘March of the Falsettos (a rather bewildering moment in the show), feels symptomatic of a musical comprised of two originally separate shows.

The cast for this production do their best and are all quite charming. Daniel Boys has quite a challenge to try and draw out the sympathetic side of the abrasive, insecure Marvin but by the interval, the audience have warmed to the would-be family man. Oliver Savile, as Marvin’s lover, Whizzer, plays the conflicted younger man well and it’s easy to see why he would be the confidante-of-choice for Marvin’s son, Jason (brilliantly played this night by Albert Atack).

As the aforementioned Cordelia and Charlotte, Natasha J Barnes and Gemma Knight-Jones are both in fine voice and full of attitude. They have lovely chemistry together and strong presence but it only goes so far in light of the underbaked nature of the roles. Laura Pitt-Pulford and Joel Montague as Trina and Mendel respectively steal the show for me; both as comfortable in the kitsch scenes as the kitchen sink moments.

While it might be fair assume Falsettos to come off as a little shrill, the show itself comes straight from the heart and, excusing a few areas I’d rather had been further developed, is worth seeing for the strong voices on show and the beauty of William Finn’s melodies.

3 Star Review

Review by Ben Powell

The double Tony Award-winning Falsettos is a hilarious and poignant look at a modern family revolving around the life of a gay man Marvin, his wife, his lover, his soon to be bar mitzvahed son, their psychiatrist, and the lesbian neighbours.

Originally created under the spectre of the AIDS crisis, this ground-breaking musical about family dynamics manages to remain buoyant and satirically perceptive even as it moves towards its heartbreaking conclusion.

Selladoor Productions, producers of 9 to 5 The Musical, Big Fish, American Idiot and Avenue Q, bring Falsettos to London for the very first time serving as a timely reminder that love really is the most beautiful thing in the world.

Music & Lyrics by William Finn
Book by William Finn and James Lapine

LISTINGS
FALSETTOS – THE MUSICAL
By William Finn (Book/Lyrics) & James Lapine (Book)
Directed by Tara Overfield-Wilkinson
The Other Palace
Dates: 30 August – 23 November 2019
https://lwtheatres.co.uk/

Dirty Dancing Tickets
London Theatre 1 and London Theatre One are Registered Trademarks Copyright 2022 www.LondonTheatre1.com
By using our website you’re confirming that you’re happy to accept our use of cookies.
Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising - About Us - Newsletter - Contact Us

As an Amazon Associate our website receives a commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.