Falsettos: Unlikely Lovers

Fun Facts: Falsettos has been directed by original Author and Director, James Lapine.

Target Audience: This production is hugely supported by the LGBT community and yet the people who need to see it, to open their minds and hearts, may never do so.

Best Bit: Stephanie J. Block delivers a hilarious performance as she sings I’m Breaking Down with gusto and desperation. Block’s performance and vocal range is marvelous throughout the production.

Morning After Effect: The song Welcome to Falsettoland keeps looping over and over in my head!

Verdict: This musical has moved so many people and given many men and women the strength to come out. I appreciate and love this show for that but I really do hope there is something new being mustered up somewhere!

Falsettos had a long and historic journey before making its revival on Broadway on October 27 this year. In 1981 creators William Finn and James Lapine presented March of the Falsettos at Playwrights Horizon and nine years later they returned for the 1990’s Falsettoland. Each production - written as a one-act musical - was then married to form Falsettos which premiered on Broadway in 1992.

The narrative uncovers the anguish of coming out as a homosexual and unlocks the truth of love, and what it means to be a family. Despite the many creatives from the LGBT community who worked within the world of theatre as well as those who attend, seeing a narrative about two gay men was still quite extreme in 1981 and 1992. Add to it the looming crisis of AIDS and the fact that our leading man has chosen to leave his wife and child, you are certainly in for a heart wrenching theatre experience.

Strangely enough so many years later, seeing gay men and women represented on stage is still unconventional which not only makes Falsettos relevant but grossly important as one can only hope it inspires more young writers to tell the current stories of the LGBT community. The current political climate in America cannot be ignored when presenting shows such as Falsettos which continues to give voice to a minority group often under attack. I am certainly grateful to have seen this production as I grasp its huge importance and contribution to storytelling; however, we need to see more stories that represent this reality in our communities far and wide.

This no doubt contributes to Christian Borle feeling hugely honored to play Marvin. Borle is best known for his two Tony wins as the devilish character in Peter and the Starcatcher, a forerunner to Captain Hook, as well as a rock star incarnation of William Shakespeare in Something Rotten! His role as Marvin, a neurotic Upper East Side Jewish man is somewhat different to these larger-than-life characters. Borle has just one month left on Broadway to enjoy this three-dimensional human man before heading into preparation for his role as Willy Wonka in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Switching between these vastly different roles mirrors Borle’s portrayal on stage of Marvin - he morphs from the chemistry with his lover Whizzer played by Andrew Rannells, to his tumultuous relationship with his wife Trina played by Stephanie J. Block, his comedic sessions with his physiatrist Mendal played by Brandon Uranowitz, and the fatherly love he shows for Jason played by the adorable Anthony Rosenthal. Each relationship is alive with love in one way or the other and we can’t help but want all the characters to win in this story, ultimately there is no villain if the end goal is to find true love

Anthony Rosenthal (Jason) delivers a heartbreaking message as a boy who is about to celebrate his bat mitzvah and decides to do so by Whizzer’s side in the hospital. This is a celebration that marks the coming of age, becoming a man, and the fact that he chooses to see the love his family shares no matter it’s form, with three fathers and a mother, is very special.

Despite the fun, fast and witty lyrics Falsettos covers big themes and will leave you wondering how far we have come, and how far we still have to go. Perhaps, David Rockwell’s set made up of giant building blocks says it best. No matter the structure, the foundation is key and a puzzle can only be complete when every piece is appreciated for its form. Well, at least that’s how I interpreted it. I couldn’t figure out if Falsettos was like a cheesy movie from the eighties that is worth watching again and again to reminisce and laugh at the relics left behind, or was it more like lycra and neon, best left in the eighties. Sadly, by the end of the show I felt the latter.

View our show pages for more information about Falsettos, Walter Kerr Theater.