A rousing, eye-filling, song-and-dance period musical spectacular!
With its spring-loaded backflips, airborne spins, rambunctious kicks and balletic pivots, the athletic ensemble in Disney’s “Newsies, the Broadway Musical,” the Tony-winning screen-to-stage Musical Theatre West sensation that is currently rampaging at Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach through July 28th, puts up a persuasive struggle against corporate greed. But the irrepressible physicality of that scrappy band of ragamuffins with their ink-stained fingers and Gotham City accents are just part of what turns this brilliant stage transformation of Disney’s 1992 big-screen misfire into a spectacular crowd pleaser.
The 1992 movie, which was directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, suffered from sluggish storytelling, a vocally challenged cast (led by an uncomfortable-looking Christian Bale) and poorly shot dance numbers bursting with anachronisms. It was “Oliver!” meets “Annie” with quasi-breakdance moves.
Enter Harvey Fierstein, who has chiseled a sweet, funny, emotionally satisfying book from Bob Tzudiker and Noni White’s screenplay. He has strengthened the story and added warmth to the characters, specifically adding more bravura, winning charm and likability to the main character Jack Kelly.
Plus, Fierstein’s new script has the erupting events chronicling N.Y.C.’s improbable “Newsboy Strike,” a rag-tag rebellion that lasted for two weeks in the summer of 1899 in much more detail. That impromptu, grassroots labor insurrection united the young tabloid vendors of six boroughs against unscrupulous capitalist bosses Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other purveyors of graft and bribery.
What spurs the kids to industrial agitation is a devastating distribution increase of ten cents for the 100-“pape” bundles they must purchase in advance and sell—without any compensation for capricious demand and unbought supply. Fighting the very exploitation and corruption that kept their parents poor, these plucky exemplars of Horatio Alger or “Our Gang” reinvent social justice as they refuse to settle for submission.
Directed and choreographed by Jeffry Denman, this hard-boiled, tough-loving creation, with music by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman, provides the perfect excuse for troubled-teen-turned-rabble-rouser Jack Kelly (a ruggedly jacked Dillon Klena no pun intended)—a homeless 17-year-old dreaming of his escape to Santa Fe—to tear up the stage with unstoppable energy, flanked by a ripe young troupe of leaping lads and galloping gals in a mounting that can only be described as electrifying, exhilarating and awe-inspiring.
These are feisty lads of the urban jungle who make their living pushing the papes. And if attracting the attention of potential customers requires yelling, pushing and pandering to baser sentimental instincts, well, a boy’s gotta do what a boy’s gotta do.
Mr. Klena, late of the North American Tour, “Jagged Little Pill,” is a natural star who has no trouble holding the stage, even without pirouettes. And his intense Daniel Day-Lewis-like face (in Daniel’s younger days, that is) alone summons memories of the tough heyday of turn-of-the-century urchin fare.
The team behind “Newsies” also knows exactly what it’s selling. And it presents the full range of its merchandise early and brazenly, as Kevin Clowes’ multitiered, tenementlike set slides forward, bearing a full cargo of young men in scruffy but picturesque outfits (designed by Greer Gardener), their faces aglow with defiance and hope, burning energy like toddlers on a sugar high at a birthday party. They keep coming at us in full-speed-ahead phalanxes, fortified by every step in a Broadway-by-the-numbers dance book. There are back flips, cartwheels, somersaults and kick lines galore, not to mention enough pirouettes to put “Swan Lake” to shame.
You could argue that such relentlessness suits the show’s plot, in which newsies learn that in solidarity (and tenacity) there is strength. The enemy they must conquer is the press baron Joseph Pulitzer (a dapper David Engel), who decides to cut costs by charging the newsies more for the papers they sell.
Mobilized by the brawn of the popular Jack and the brains of the more reticent Davey (Jaylen Baham), the young newsies are initiated into the fine arts of unionizing and business negotiations. Their fold includes Jack’s best friend (who’s lame in one leg) named Crutchie (Tom Avery) and a precocious, pint-sized charmer (played appealingly by Colton Jackson Hutzler).
Also on hand to aid and abet the strikers and encourage the cultural and romantic aspirations of Jack is a lovely, high-born but politically fair-minded reporter named Katharine (Monika Peña, aglow with feminine competence). Quick, funny, and resourceful, she boldly captures the voice of a new generation rising in her coverage of the newsies’ strike. While she generally has no time for cocky, streetwise young men, she makes an exception for Jack Kelly.
She also has the show’s best and most atypical song. It’s called “Watch What Happens,” and it is about, of all things, writer’s block, and trying to find the words to capture momentous events. Ms. Peña’s vocals are spot-on, while the melody reminds us just how charming a composer Mr. Menken (who did “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid” for Disney) can be. It also provides a sorely needed oasis of relief from all that extra! extra! enthusiasm.
There are a few Dickensian villains hanging around, who look somewhat threatening, as well as a helpful burlesque queen named Medda Larkin (Dominique Kent) who sings divinely. Inspired by vaudeville performer Aida Overton Walker, this big-voiced saloon singer and star of the Bowery offers her theater as a safe haven for the newsies, standing firmly behind them in their fight for justice.
And there’s a deus ex machina named Theodore Roosevelt, portrayed by William Hartery (who also doubles as restaurant owner, Mr. Jacobi). You might remember that Theodore’s fifth cousin, Franklin, played a similar role in “Annie.” Mr. Hartery is convincingly authentic in his delivery.
“Newsies” has a stirring, old-school sincerity that’s hard to resist. In its call to arms, its refusal to back down to big business, its fight for basic human dignity and its skepticism toward politics, the creators has assembled an adorable pro-union, up-with-the-downtrodden musical that seems truly worth singing about.
No question, this youth-drenched tale’s feel-good showbiz savvy is well-earned: Sheer kinetic energy can more than pass for eloquence when packaged this propulsively, considering the incredible hoofing of MTW’s inexhaustible pyro tyros. Their pile-driving, high-stepping breakouts explode in such incandescent rousers as “Carrying the Banner,” “Seize the Day,” and “King of New York,” thanks to the meticulous execution of Director Denman’s truly slick choreography. Jack, the unelected king of New York, may never get to Santa Fe, but our time trip to a Manhattan of yesteryear is definitely happiness on all cylinders.
MUSICAL THEATRE WEST PRESENTS, DISNEY’S NEWSIES, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL, Now Playing at Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Long Beach; Based on the Disney Film written by BOB TZUDIKER & NONI WHITE; Originally produced on Broadway by DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS; Directed & Choreographed by JEFFRY DENMAN; Music by ALAN MENKEN; Lyrics by JACK FELDMAN; Book by HARVEY FIERSTEIN; Musically Directed by RYAN O’CONNELL; Technical Director & Scene Designer KEVIN CLOWES; Lighting Designer PAUL BLACK; Sound Designer JULIE FERRIN; Costume Designer GREER GARDENER; Props Designer MOLLY REEVES; Wig Designer GARRETT RUIZ; Fight Choreographer KEVIN MATSUMOTO; Stage Manager TALIA KRISPEL; Asst. Stage Managers JULIAN OLIVE & RAVEN CHATT.
STARRING: DILLON KLENA, DAVID ENGEL, MONIKA PENA, TOM AVERY, JAYLEN BAHAM, COLTON JACKSON HUTZLER, DOMINIQUE KENT, TAVEN BLANKE, ANTHONY CANNARELLA, SKYLAR GAINES, DAVID KIRK GRANT, BRANDON HALVORSEN, WILLIAM HARTERY, XO HAYES, LAURA LEO KELLY, BILL LEDESMA, ANTOINE LEE, KATIE MARSHALL, ANDRE DARNELL MYERS, SHILOH ORR, LIZA PICCOLI, COREY RIEGER, ALEX RILEY, GABBY ROSALES, LIZZY SHECK.
WITH: ALEKSI BARRANCO, BRADY BARRETT, DAXTON BETHONEY, RYAN BOHMHOLDT, SAM BORENSTEIN, JOHN KASEY CANDELARIA, CORRINA CASTRO, WAVERLY CRAVER, BRENNAN JACOB ESGUERRA, CHLOE ALYSSA HANSER, ROSALIE BELLE HUTZLER, CONNER NOSON, DANIEL PETERS, DAGNY SHAW.
“NEWSIES” Playing from July 12th – 28th. Performances are Thursday July 18th at 7:30PM; Fridays at 8PM; Saturdays at 2PM & 8PM; Sundays at 1PM. 6200 E. Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815. For tickets: https://musical.org/events/disneys-newsies/ or 562-856-1999 | tickets@musical.org
Chris Daniels
Arts & Entertainment Reviewer
The Show Report
Photo Credits: Musical Theatre West
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