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FIORELLO!
Book by George Abbott and Jerome Weidman
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Directed by Nick Bowling
Musical Direction by Doug Peck
At Timeline Theatre
615 W. Wellington
Chicago, IL
Call 773-281-8463, tickets $25 -$30
Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 4 & 8 PM
Sundays at 2 PM
Special Wednesdays; May 5, June 4 & 11
Running time is 2 hrs, 45 min with intermission
Through July 20, 2008
Remount of Fiorello! sings better than original Timeline Production
TimeLine Theater’s Jeff Award winning production of the life of Fiorello LaGuardia, (Fiorello!), has half the original cast from their 2006 production. Led by PJ Powers, Rebecca Finnegan, Michael Kingston and Terry Hamilton, this year’s mounting has grown in sophistication into a tighter production under the watchful eye of director Nick Bowling. The 2008 remount sings better and contains a polished, confident feel.
As I said in my May, 2006 review: “PJ Powers boldly delivers a tour de force performance as the feisty, hyper populist politician who reformed New York City as mayor during the 1930’s. Mayor La Guardia was an Italian-Jewish Episcopalian lawyer, totally honest and incorruptible who first dealt a blow to the Democrat Tammany Hall political establishment by winning a Congressional seat in 1916. This character sketch introduces audiences to a major big city reformer in the making with a tremendous script.” Let me add that Powers is even stronger in the 2008 production. He wears the role of Fiorello with deeper emotions. Powers is, indeed, the incarnation onstage of the feisty New York mayor.
Fiorello! is a peppy Broadway musical by veteran playwrights George Abbott and Jerome Weidman with music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof & She Loves Me). It won the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award in a tie with The Sound of Music (beating Gypsy) and it played to 798 performances on Broadway in 1960. Timeline Theatre, with help and blessing from Sheldon Harnick, has given new life to this once forgotten gem. Their 2006 production was a smash hit—making it the most popular show in Timeline’s history.
As I also stated in my 2006 review: “FIORELLO! is a classically structured Broadway musical featuring heartbreaking ballads, cute patter songs, clever chorus showstoppers like “Politics and Poker” and “Little Tin Box” featuring rich harmonies throughout. The story is of one little, but manic, man bent on reforming the Big Apple against the corrupt big-city bosses. It is told with powerful emotions and nice bits of witty satirical humor.” That statement is still true in the 2008 production. This year’s show features more robust singing and richer harmonies. That’s a major improvement.
Doug Peck, once again recreates his Jeff Award winning musical arrangements of Jerry Bock’s bouncy score. Kevin Hagan’s impressive multi-layered ladder set, which aptly allows enough space for several locations, is back giving the show a large feel in Timeline’s small space.
Nick Bowling nicely blends his 8 new cast members with his holdovers. Newcomer, Andrea Prestinario’s fine voice lands “When Did I Fall in Love.” She is a nice addition to the cast.
I liked the catchy anthem “The Name’s LaGuardia” and the sentimental serenade “Till Tomorrow” which captures the mood of a soldiers leaving for the Great War. “I Love A Cop” is a smart ode to police officers that is nicely sung by Maris Hudson. Rebecca Finnegan, now an Equity actress, belts “Marie’s Law” and “The Very Next Man” demonstrating her strong voice. Donica Lynn, as Mizzi, explodes her Roaring’ 20’s tribute to Mayor Walker with “Gentleman Jimmy.”
My two favorite numbers are harmonies sung with satirical gusto by Terry Hamilton, Dan Loftus, Andy Nagraj, Joe Savino, Steve Best and Thomas M. Shea. “Politics and Poker” and the “Little Tin Box” songs were a hoot! Michael Kingston, Alan Schmuckler and Rebecca Finnegan continued their terrific performances as they did in the 2006 production.
FIORELLO! is anchored by PJ Powers. Powers still has all the charisma, energy, commanding presence he did in the original Timeline production. We love the manic reformer. Powers has increased his winning spirit and enthusiasm with loads of heart. Powers improves his take on LaGuardia as evidenced in his deeper emotions in his wrenching reprise of “The Name’s La Guardia” in act two. Powers has matured as an actor.
Timeline Theatre’s 2008 remount of Fiorello! is an improvement of their outstanding 2006 version. It will still impress those who loved the ‘06 mounting. For those who missed it last time—you have another chance to see this rarely produced musical. We could use a feisty reformer in Chicago. PJ for mayor?
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast.
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2008
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