Falsettos

Review by: Paul Towers, 10/10/19

Falsettos by Wiiliam Finn & James Lapine, music & lyrics by William Finn

A Selladoor Worldwide production

The Othe Palace, London until 23 November 2019

“funny, musical and energetic.”

This musical has had an unusual gestation. Way back in 1979 it started as a one act piece, Trousers, about Marvin who is struggling with his sexuality and wondering how to embrace being gay while still having a wife and child.

In 1981 William Finn added two more chapters to Marvin’s life, his family and friends. And so Falsettos was born.

Marvin (Daniel Boys) was married to Trina (Laura Pitt-Pulford) with a 10 year old son, Jason (on my visit played by Albert Atack). As the show opens the two adults are trying to arrange their son’s Bar Mitzvah, something Jason isn’t keen on. To try and make sense of his life Marvin, as so many Americans do, sees a therapist, Mendel (Joel Montague). Marvin’s on/off boyfriend, Whizzer (Oliver Savile) further complicates things by becoming a significant influence in young Jason’s life and thus ‘becoming part of the family’

It is very obvious that Finn was inspired by Stephen Sondheim in the way he wrote the show. It is all sung with no dialogue although in this case Finn doesn’t display quite the lyrical dexterity of Sondheim.

The set is an inventive series of boxes that slide out of the back to form beds, tables, chairs and seats. Very classy. Around the set is a series of picture frames onto which are projected all sorts of graphics to suggest domesticity and medical institutions.

While the whole cast are exceptional especial mention has to go to the fabulous scene stealing talents of young Albert Atack as Jason, a pure voice attached to an ability to do physical comedy. That boy will go far. The show stopping moment for me was Laura Pitt-Pulford’s ‘I’m Breaking Down’ as Trina tries to come to terms with her complicated emotions.

This is a funny, musical and energetic show about unconventional families set in America as the AIDS crisis really took hold.

This was my first visit to the Other Palace, a small studio style theatre space with nice highly raked seating so everyone can see everything. It has friendly staff and a very pleasant bar as part of the venue.

The Other Palace https://www.falsettoslondon.com/
http://ptheatre.blogspot.co.uk/