REVIEWSREVIEWS BYTheatre ReviewsTom Williams

Newsies -National Tour

Music by Alan MenkenNEWSIES-on-tour-POSTER

Lyrics by Jack Feldman

Book by Harvey Fierstein

Choreographed by Christoper Gattelli

Directed by Jeff Calhoun

At the Oriental Theatre, Chicago

“Old people talk too much”–one  of the Newsies

Manic, manly dancing catapults the National Tour of Newies into our hearts

Disney’s flop 1992 film Newsies come to life in Chicago in a rollicking, fun-filled evening of high-energy musical theatre.  This break-out smash hit on Broadway is playing here until January 4, 2015 and it is a sure-hit for the teens in your family, especially the boys. This stage musical is far superior to the film, as this show packs a wallop directly into our hearts. We empathize and love these determined boys as they struggle for dignity and a fair deal from the newspaper publishers (especially Joseph Pulitzer). Newsies is based on  the 1899 strike in NYC when the orphan/runaways who sell newspapers on the street strike to protest an increase to their wholesale price for newspapers.

Newsies, a Disney Theatrical Production under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Newsies, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein, starring Dan Deluca (Jack Kelly), Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer), Stephanie Style

We meet the group’s leader, Jack Kelly (the charismatic, yet vocally challenged Dan DeLuca) and his pal Crutchie (Zachary Sayle), the Newsie with a deformed leg.  Kelly dreams of New Mexico while Crutchie dreams of two functioning legs. Kelly is a natural-born leader who is the acknowledges head of the Manhattan Newsies.

With several fantastic dance numbers that contain swift dances with flips, twirls, breathtaking arabesques, the  16 boys possess expert ballet, tap, acrobatic and gymnastic skills that never fail to exhilarate audiences in showstoppers like “The Bottom Line,” “Carry the Banner,” “King of New York” and “Seize the Day.”

Newsies, a Disney Theatrical Production under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Newsies, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein, starring Dan Deluca (Jack Kelly), Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer), Stephanie Style

The story pits the Newsies against the publishers as the poor versus the rich in a classic struggle for survival. Alan Menken has penned a rousing score befitting the exciting choreography deftly designed by Christopher Gattelli (a Tony Winner for his work here) and superbly danced by the tireless cast of 16 talents who are fine actors and singers to boot!

Newsies, a Disney Theatrical Production under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Newsies, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, book by Harvey Fierstein, starring Dan Deluca (Jack Kelly), Steve Blanchard (Joseph Pulitzer), Stephanie Style

While I was enamored by the sheer energy and fun tone of Newsies, I am baffled my the decisions to cast two weak Broadway-pop singers. Neither  Dan Deluca or Stephanie Styles can sing adequately for their roles. DeLuca uses a fake-sounding Brooklyn accent that quickly becomes an irritant, while Styles sounds and sings like a chip monk  with her squeaky voice. You would think for a national tour, the producers would cast legitimate singers in the leads?

But, taken as a whole, Newsies delivers enough sheer energy with an adventurous story that depicts a worthy moral. This exciting show is filled with heart, empathetic characters as the boys win a round in quest of their place in the scheme of life in turn-of-the-Century New York. Newsies is a fine show filled with enough joy and energy to light up our holidays. It is much better than the film. Hurry, you have only have two weeks to see this fun show.

Recommended

Tom Williams

At the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph, Chicago, IL, call 800-775-2000, www.broadwayinchicago.com tickets $40 – $139,  running time is 2 hours, 30 minutes with intermission, through January 4, 2015