Flying Over Sunset (Broadway) (2022)

We had tickets to see Flying Over Sunset last year but it was canceled for Covid. They did reopen this year, though maybe they shouldn't have; sadly they are ending their limited run two weeks early. I don't know how this concept even got greenlit; it's way out there. It's an LSD trip taken by Aldous Huxley, Carey Grant and Clare Booth Luce. Though they are all on the record as having taken LSD, there is no historical evidence that they did so together, let alone even knew each other. So it's entirely made up, and what an odd thing to make up. Who in this day and age are interested in these three random historical figures? With a concept like LSD, they could've gone way further with either absurdist comedy. In that way, the problem is that it's not funny enough. They almost get there with the reference to Blue Origin (actually predating Blue Origin). But on the whole, they should've swung wilder.

Tony Yazbeck plays Carey Grant. He actually kind of resembles him a bit. He sings and tap dances atop a desk. Harry Hadden-Paton for me is always going to be Henry Higgins from My Fair Lady. He has the accent and the quintessential British-ness. He plays Aldous Huxley similarly. Carmen Cusack plays Clare Booth Luce, who was at one time Ambassador to Italy, and also a playwright and magazine editor. The actors are all actually fine but the material is not that interesting. The first act, with the three separate trips is kind of boring. The second act is a little better when the trip together. But it's not really coherent and there isn't really a point to it. And the music is mostly unmemorable.

By far the best part of the show is the set design by Beowulf Boritt. The set is lush and wondrous. The back wall curves and shows projections (including clips from Houseboat during a hallucinatory dance with Sophia Loren)  and moves back and forth and swivels real fast. The drug store in act I transports us straight to the 50s. The choreography is also kind of interesting. Aside from the explicit tap dancing, there is a lot of syncopated walking. That can't be easy getting the rhythm right.

On the Town (Broadway) (2014)

On the Town might not be as classic as West Side Story, but Bernstein's musical about WWII-era Fleet Week before it was Fleet Week (ironically, this week is Fleet Week) is excellent.  The music is very diverse, at times jazzy, other times operatic.  It makes use of a wide variety of instruments.  In place of the usual overture, the play opens with an energetic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and the audience rises to its feet in a show of patriotism.  The music adapts to the scene, transforming flawlessly from purely romantic to raucously funny. However, as far as show tunes go, besides "New York, New York," the music is not very memorable or catchy.

In terms of plot, there really isn't much.  The story is quite simple: three Navy men have 24 hours in New York City.  This is a showcase for our great city, and it at least mentions almost every borough (besides the best one: Queens).  The play is pure fun because there is a lot of comedy, but none of it really advances the primary romance between Gabey and Ivy.  The set design is excellent. The actors stand in an imaginary box and hang on imaginary straps to simulate an imaginary subway car.  A mechanical bench that sways back and forth simulates a crazy taxi.  A large moving background captures the hustle and bustle of the city. And a large dinosaur puppet (not quite War Horse-style) brings the Museum of Natural History to life.

This Broadway musical has a lot of ballet, descended from Jerome Robbins.  The dream ballet sequences are gorgeous, especially the Coney Island scene complete with color lighting on the bare back wall.  Joshua Bergasse's choreography is mesmerizing.  The three leads dance in perfect unison, led by Tony Yazbeck as Gabey.  He dances, sings, and deserves his Tony nomination.  Megan Fairchild plays the female lead, though she does not have nearly enough stage time.  She is from the New York City Ballet making her Broadway debut.  She is beautifully majestic in every scene she is in.