‘A BRONX TALE’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

A BRONX TALE
Book by Chazz Palminteri
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Directed by Robert DeNiro & Jerry Zaks
Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo
Longacre Theatre
220 West 48th Street
(212-239-6200), www.abronxtalethemusical.com

By David NouNou

I can honestly say A Bronx Tale is the first truly, thoroughly enjoyable show of the 2016 fall season and we are very close to the end of it. That should give you an idea of how exciting this fall season has been. This is not to undermine the show but to totally praise it. Who else could have written the book as well as Chazz Palminteri? After all, it is about his life and who should know it better? The music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater capture the mood, feel, and essence of the 1960s doo-wop and rock-and-roll sound to perfection. It distills the 1960s and transports us to the Bronx, Belmont Avenue and an Italian neighborhood where there was right from wrong and rules were still obeyed.

In 1960 young Calogero (Hudson Loverro) witnesses Sonny (Nick Cordero) kill a guy outside his building, but in a lineup, he refuses to rat Sonny out. A trust and bond develops between Calogero and Sonny; this undermines the bond Calogero has with his father, Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake). Lorenzo knows his son has talent and doesn’t want to see him waste it. Come 1968, Calogero (Bobby Conte Thornton) is grownup, almost a wastrel, and still is torn between his father’s values and Sonny’s flash. Thrown into the mix is Jane (the lovely Ariana DeBose) who is black and lives on Webster Avenue and the two inevitably fall for each other —which does not sit well with the two neighborhoods because races did not mix even if you lived in the same community. Each few blocks were an entity unto themselves.

Sure, the story seems familiar, but it is done in a fresh way, and that fresh thing is sincerity. There is a story here and it tells it from the heart with no artificial fillers. Robert DeNiro and Jerry Zaks have taken the story and directed it without any frills, just fine-tuned it to let the tale unfold in the most simplistic and realistic of ways.

The standout performance is Nick Cordero; he was a showstopper and Tony nominee in Bullets Over Broadway, the only good thing in that dreadful musical. He is sensational here as Sonny the gangster. It is a thrill to watch this man dominate and command a stage and watch his talent grow with each succeeding show. Richard H. Blake is admirable as Lorenzo. As the young Calogero, Hudson Loverro is an adorable child actor doing his job well without being cloying. Ariana DeBose—who just left Hamilton—as Jane is a joy to see and hear. Bobby Conte Thornton has a nice voice and tries to be sincere but lacks the stage presence to bring any dimension to the older Calogero; the role calls for a more seasoned actor to dominate the stage.

The show is a tribute to another time. It brings back to life a moving, stirring, delectable Americana morsel that preserves a period, time, place, sound, and people that is part of American history now.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published December 8, 2016
Reviewed at press performance on December 7, 2016

‘A BRONX TALE’: Nick Cordero & Richard H. Blake. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: (left to right) Rory Max Kaplan, Keith White, Dominic Nolfi, Joe Barbara, Hudson Loverro, Cary Tedder. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: Bobby Conte Thornton & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: Arianna DeBose (center) & Gilbert L. Bailey II & Bradley Gibson, Trista Dollison & Christiani Pitts (L-R). Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: (left to right) Hudson Loverro, Richard H. Blake, Lucia Giannetta. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: (left to right) Trista Dollison, Ariana DeBose & Christiani Pitts. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: Nick Cordero & Hudson Loverro. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: Hudson Loverro & Richard H. Blake. Photo: Joan Marcus

‘A BRONX TALE’: Bobby Conte Thornton & Nick Cordero. Photo: Joan Marcus

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‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: (left to right) Alex Brightman, Dante Melucci & Evie Dolan. Photo: Matthew Murphy

SCHOOL OF ROCK
Book by Julian Fellowes
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Directed by Laurence Connor
Choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter
Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway at 50th Street
(212-239-6200), www.schoolofrockthemusical.com/

By David NouNou

Having not seen the 2003 movie School of Rock and knowing very little about it (other than it was a huge hit for Jack Black) definitely gave me a leg up to enjoy this vastly entertaining musical. For me, it was seeing an original musical and it’s a rock-ass thrill. Adding to that thrill is the music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (longtime favorite) going back to his rock roots of Jesus Christ Superstar, and the book is by Julian Fellows of “Downton Abbey” fame. Who would have thought that these two “very proper” Englishmen would give us a most compelling rock musical of this generation?

Like Matilda, it is a child that tries to make sense of the outside world and fit in it. Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman) is not a little girl and certainly not a child; he is more akin to Peter Pan, the child that doesn’t want to grow up. Dewey is a misfit. He has been kicked out of his rock band; he’s despondent, and lives in the home of a former bandmate, Ned Schneebly (a substitute teacher) and his girlfriend Patty. Dewey owes them a lot of back rent. Patty has had enough of his slovenliness and wants him out, until one day a call comes for Ned and is intercepted by Dewey. The call is from staunch Principal Rosalie Mullins (Sierra Boggess) for a substitute teacher at the prestigious Horace Green Prep School. Needing money, Dewey goes for the job posing as Ned.

Dewey is confronted by children who come from privilege and overachieving parents who have no clue as to who their children are and what they can actually accomplish. This becomes a learning lesson for both. Dewey gets to learn about the kids and himself; the kids learn to abandon discipline and overcome their insecurities. He has to train them to fulfill his dream in competing in the “Battle of the Bands.” The two become co-dependent and both grow, learn and mature in the process.

I would probably say that the most daunting task in originating this musical was to find the proper Dewey. You couldn’t just bring a Jack Black imitator; you had to bring a Dewey that can make the character real for the stage. After all he is the loser. However, he has to have enough likability, charm and charisma to be able to win the audience over and root for him. This task has fallen into the hands of Alex Brightman.

I hate to use the term overnight star, because that term on Broadway is so ephemeral and overused. Mr. Brightman has paid his dues and has to his credits roles in Wicked, Big Fish, as well as Matilda. He is a person that should be noticed in the future, and come awards time next spring, he has to be recognized.

Earlier this spring, Sierra Boggess was in the abysmal musical It Shoulda Been You and previously was enchanting as Christine in Mr. Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom Of the Opera. Although she has the beautiful, haunting song “Where Did the Rock Go?” in Act II and learns to defrost, her Principal Mullins is a thankless role.

As for the children, they are all perfection and they actually play their musical instruments and are versatile performers in acting, singing and dancing. Laurence Connor, who directed the current version of Les Miserables has tapped into a much lighter venue (rock comedy) he keeps things constantly moving and never allows the children to be annoying or cloying. He respects them and gives each one of them a distinct personality and we get to know them as individuals.

In the end, it is Julian Fellows (book), Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics) who are the real rock stars of School of Rock. Without them, we wouldn’t have had this infinitely delightful head-banger.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published December 18, 2015
Reviewed at performance on December 17, 2015

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: Alex Brightman & Sierra Boggess. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: Alex Brightman & the adult ensemble. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: Alex Brightman & the kid band. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: (left to right) Evie Dolan, Alex Brightman & Brando Niederauer. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: Sierra Boggess. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: The children’s ensemble & Sierra Boggess. Photo: Matthew Murphy

‘SCHOOL OF ROCK’: The children’s ensemble. Photo: Matthew Murphy

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