Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Weston Drama Workshop’s 56th season starts off with a bang with “Newsies” by Walt Disney. This group is a Youth Repertory Theater and the 56th season is dedicated to Andrew Ramsey who was a member of this group and sadly passed away last July 25. Disney’s “Newsies” is based on the 1992 Disney film and is inspired by the real-life “Newsboy Strike of 1899,” when Newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and run away newsies on a two- week-long action against Pulitzer, Hearst and other powerful newspaper publishers. The show has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and made its Broadway debut on March 29, 2012 where it ran for over 1005 performances closing August 24, 2014 before touring the country from then until October 2, 2016. The choreography in the musical is astounding, entertaining and energetic from start to finish. Director Chris Brindley, the choreographer Emily Craver with music director Bethany Aiken leading a splendid 9 piece orchestra with their combined expertise wins these 51 young performers a standing ovation.
Chris blocks his huge cast perfectly on this two story fire escape set. He elicits brilliant performances from these kids that have to be seen to be believed. He also gives each one of them their chance to shine in this show. Emily choreographs the show marvelously. She also creates breathtaking dance steps for these young performers that are unbelievable with some high kicks, tumbling and tap dancing among them. The group numbers are all powerfully performed. Bethany brings out the best in the vocalists with her terrific nine piece orchestra especially powerful are group numbers “Seize the Day” where they rip newspapers while dancing and “King of New York” which is a show stopping tap dance that opens Act 2. Kudos to this whole talented cast and crew on bringing to life a musical full of hope that we can definitely use in these turbulent times.
The leading man is Jackson Schwartz who plays Jack Kelly, has a magnificent tenor voice that soars off the charts. The character is an artist stuck in New York City who yearns to escape and breath fresh air. His dynamic voice is heard in “Santa Fe”, “Carrying the Banner”, with his band of newsies, “The World Will Know” when he organizes a strike. He is fantastic as this leading man with his strength and charisma. I last reviewed him as Tony in “Billy Elliot” here last summer. The leading lady, Jordana Kagan plays the pivotal role of Katherine Plumber. Katherine is an upper class well educated girl with determination to help them out of their plight. Their love song is “Something to Believe In” where she convinces him to lead a Children’s Crusade to defeat Pulitzer and the others. Her feministic solo is “Watch What Happens” as she vows to prove herself at the end of the 19th Century. Her crystal clear soprano voice shines in both these numbers and her dancing prowess is fabulous, too.
The other newsboys do a marvelous job, too. Davey and Les Jacobs are brothers who join the newsies but also have a family of their own unlike the other boys. The scholarly Davey gives Jack good advice along the way. Terry Mullany shines as this older brother trying to support his family. He sings the rousing “Seize the Day” and another dynamic group number is “King of New York” where they all tap dance up a storm. Terry is headed to USC in the fall as a freshman. Cameron Levesque who is 11 years old plays the younger brother, Les fabulously. A standout quartet occurs in Act 2 when they sing “Watch What Happens” when Jack, Katherine, Davey and Les decide to rescue Crutchie from his fate. Cam has some of the best one liners in this show and makes them all hit pay dirt. He also sings and dances marvelously, too. I reviewed him last summer as Billy Elliot. Andrew Caira as Crutchie is one of the most sympathetic characters in the show. He gets captured after the protest and gets beaten up. He tugs on your heartstrings as he is trapped in a prison called the refuge. He sings “A Letter from the Refuge” where he calls Jack his brother.
The villain of the show is Joseph Pulitzer played by Jack Williams. His song is “The Bottom Line” which is all about making a profit from the boy’s hard work. Rachel Sidmore as Medda Larkin sings a vaudeville number called “That’s Rich” which brightens up the proceedings. Later on in the show she brings the Governor in to save the day. Another group number the boys sing is “Once and For All” when the boys print their own newspaper, showing it to Governor Theodore Roosevelt. Somehow the boys beat the system and win the day. One of the best dancers in the show of incredible dancers is Chris Mitchell who you’d swear was a Broadway dancer! Yet he is only going to be a senior in high school in Tewksbury. So for a magnificent rendition of a contemporary musical that resonates with families of all ages, be sure to catch “Newsies” at Weston Drama Workshop before time runs out. It will leave you laughing and crying in all the right places. It is a definite crowd pleaser. Run do not walk to the box office to catch the must see musical of the summer season.
NEWSIES (20 to 28 July)
Regis College Fine Arts Center, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA
1(781)768-7070 or www.westondramaworkshop.org
