Here’s the thing about Leonard Bernstein shows; they’re larger than life, classically “Broadway” and, if painted with a broad brushstroke, can feel more than a little dated. That is, unless they’re staged by the Goodman, and infused with such nuance that even the tiniest set piece feels like the wink of an inside joke.
Wonderful Town is unlike anything else you’ll see all year.
photo credit: Liz Lauren
What started in the 1930s as a series of short stories by author Ruth McKenney, chronicling the tales and travails of Ruth and her younger sister Eileen, leapt from The New Yorker to the stage and then to a film (starring Rosalind Russell). The adventures of these two Ohio girls taking on the big city caught the attention of Bernstein, who was asked to help provide a few songs for a musical adaptation. The result? One of the most beloved scores in Leonard Bernstein’s impressive catalog. And as directed by Mary Zimmerman, the Goodman’s Wonderful Town swings, sparkles, and shines.
From curtain up, the set invites the audience in with a whimsical skyscape and vibrant palate of colors (designed by Todd Rosenthal and inspired by a Steven Duncan graphic illustration); and once folks get a gander of just what those set pieces can do, we’re more than thrilled to step into the bohemian Greenwich Village of the 1950s. It doesn’t hurt, either, that the two sisters- Bri Sudia and Lauren Molina as Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, respectively- are exceptional. Molina’s Eileen is the gorgeous and charming kid sister you can’t help but root for (even as men are trampling over you to hold her coat), and Sudia as Ruth possesses a dry wit and lightning-fast way with zingers that leave zero doubt of her competence in any major metropolitan area. (Her “One hundred easy ways” number is worth the price of admission alone.)
The ensemble is marvelous as well, excelling at the big band dance numbers, manipulating the ridiculously cool set, and- individually and collectively- wielding large enough personalities to populate all of Manhattan. (And, for at least one scene, Brooklyn.) My theatre date, 6 year-old Nora, was entranced for the full two and a half hours, answering the question “who’s this show for?” Answer: Absolutely everyone.
With its snappy dialogue and gigantic orchestra, Wonderful Town simply epitomizes “feel good.” And how many things you’re reading about today can inspire that phrase?
(Hey there, sailor, you’re in luck; this show runs through October 23rd.)
*****
If you go:
The Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn, Chicago
goodmantheatre.org
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