‘The Outsiders’: Sky Lakota-Lynch & Joshua Boone. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

THE OUTSIDERS
Based on the novel by S. E. Hinton

Book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine
Music & lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) & Justin Levine
Choreography by Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman
Directed by Danya Taymor
Bernard Jacobs Theatre
242 West 45th Street
(212-239-6200), www.OutsidersMusical.com

By David NouNou

Intense would be the appropriate word to summarize The Outsiders. Not having read the 1967 novel by S. E. Hinton, or seen the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola movie of the same name, I didn’t want to make any comparisons to previous incarnations but strictly base it on its own merits as a musical.

Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967, the story is told through the eyes of Ponyboy Curtis (Brody Grant), writing what he experiences that summer with his “Greaser” friends, and the rich kids of Tulsa, “The Socs” (short for “socials”). Ponyboy lives with his two older brothers: Darrell Curtis (Brent Comer), the head of the household now, and his middle brother, Sodapop (Jason Schmidt). Their parents both died by crashing into a moving train, and all the responsibility from raising his two brothers and making the money all befalls on Darrell.

The “Greaser” family also consists of two major friends: Dallas Winston (Joshua Booth) and Johnny Cade (Sky Lakota Lynch), who is Ponyboy’s best friend. Dallas is an outsider and more of a brother, protector, and friend to both Ponyboy and Johnny and he genuinely cares for them.

This brings us to the “Socs” who are the rich kids from the right side of the tracks. They are constantly picking on and terrorizing the greasers for entering into their parks and movie theaters. With the exception of Cherry Valance (Emma Pittman)— who crosses that line one night and engages in a conversation with Ponyboy—they find out they both share the same problems, it’s not easy to be rich and it’s not easy to be poor. This is, of course, noticed by the other “Socs” and ultimately results into a rumble and an ultimate death.

At this point, I couldn’t help but notice that I was watching some form of West Side Story set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Instead of the Jets and the Sharks, you have “Socs” against “Greasers” fighting for who gets to keep the turf. Instead of Tony and Maria at a dance, you have Ponyboy and Cherry at a movie house. There is the rumble that is supposed to be a clean fight, but ends up with the gory blood and guts brawl in slow motion in this inexplicable rain storm, and ultimately someone gets stabbed and dies. West Side Story was groundbreaking, heart-pounding and brilliant in every way. The Outsiders, as the title implies, focuses on outsiders wanting a better life and a better place to fit in without being bullied.

Creators Adam Rapp and Justin Levine have written a solid book, but it could have used some editing since it becomes repetitious at times. However, on the plus side there is a haunting and pleasing score by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justine Levine.

This is an ensemble cast. However, there are four standout performances, most notably from Joshua Boone as Dallas Winston. His voice, performance and stage presence are a force with which to be reckoned. Sky Lakota-Lynch, as Johnny Cade, gives a heartbreakingly genuine performance and both performances deserve nominations for this year’s Tony Awards. Brent Comer as older brother Darrel and Joshua Schmidt as middle brother Sodapop make their presences felt through their strong voices and compelling performances.

Although Brody Grant has a mellifluous singing voice for Ponyboy, he sometimes lacks the stage presence to carry the whole show on his shoulders because the role is enormous. He is overshadowed by the four previously mentioned actors. Director Danya Taymor should have edited the show in certain scenes to make the narrative more focused and also strengthen Mr. Grant’s performance.

As stated earlier, the show is intense and if you enjoy seeing something outside your comfort zone, this is the ticket for you.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published April 19, 2024
Reviewed at April 18, 2024 press performance

‘THE OUTSIDERS’: (top row) Barton Cowperthwaite, Dan Berry, RJ Higton, Kevin William Paul, Emma Pittman, Melody Rose; (front row) Sean Harrison Jones. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘THE OUTSIDERS’: The cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘THE OUTSIDERS’: Emma Pittman & Brody Grant. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘THE OUTSIDERS’: The cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

‘THE OUTSIDERS’: The cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

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‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’: Casey Likes. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL
Based on the Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment Film
Written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale
Book by Bob Gale
Music & lyrics by Alan Silvestri & Glen Ballard
Directed by John Rando
Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway
https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/new-york/

By David NouNou

Having seen Back to The Future last year in London, I have to concede that this version is far superior to the British production. Reason being that other than Roger Bart playing Doc Brown, an American actor, the rest of cast were all British, with the most abominable American accents. In addition, the actor playing Marty McFly was way too old for the role, thus making the part cringeworthy.

You all know the plot, here’s a recap: Set in a small California town in 1985, 17-year-old Marty McFly (Casey Likes), in an experiment travels through time in a modified DeLorean car created by his eccentric friend, Doc Brown (Roger Bart) where he ends up in 1955 encountering young versions of his parents, before they were married. His mother Lorraine Baines (Liana Hunt) has the hots for Marty when she first meets him and thinks his name is Calvin Klein because of the underwear he’s wearing, and his father is a nerdy highschooler George McFly (Hugh Coles) who is constantly being picked on and tormented by Biff Tannen (Nathaniel Hackmann), the town bully. Marty has to make sure that George and Lorraine fall in love and kiss at a designated time, or he and his siblings shall cease to exist. More daunting, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown.

The plot is simple and the cast is minimal. It follows the premise of the movie; however, most of the charm and innocence of the piece is gone. Instead, it is loud and all over the place. Substance has been replaced with needless and uninspired dance numbers.

The book by Bob Gale is clever enough to keep it afloat. The score at best tries to stay in the mood of the 50s and 80s but is not particularly memorable. Although the musical is created and directed by Americans, it was originally presented in London. What’s amazing about British musicals is when creating material that is English in nature, from Six to & Juliet, they can be brilliant, but when they try to create American-themed musicals, they somehow miss the mark by overindulgence to play for an American audience—as if to say bigger is better.

The cast, headed by Roger Bart, as Doc Brown, has mercifully toned down his performance a lot. Doc Brown is a brilliant but eccentric scientist. In London, Mr. Bart portrayed him as a manic lunatic. His performance is much better and more genuine now. If you follow the performance, he now seems to channel Robin Williams which is a much more pleasant experience. Casey Likes—who last fall played William in the short-lived musical version of Almost Famous— now plays Marty McFly. He is age appropriate and rather likeable.

The best part of the show is the English holdover, Hugh Coles. He was great as George McFly in London; he is even better now on Broadway.

To be sure, as long as tourists keep coming to New York, Back to the Future will be their favorite staple and can keep it running well into the future.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published August 11, 2023
Reviewed at August 10, 2023 press performance.

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’: Roger Bart & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ (left to right): Daryl Tofa, Nathaniel Hackmann, Will Branner, Casey Likes & Hugh Coles. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’: Jelani Remy & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’: Casey Likes & cast. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’: Casey Likes. Photo: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman.

The post ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ better in NY appeared first on StageZine.