Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The Wilbury Theatre Group closes out their season with the Tony Award winning musical, “Fun Home” which opened off Broadway in 2013. This musical is based on the book by Alison Bechdel about her discovering her own sexuality. All these years she’s been wondering if her coming out caused her father’s death or was it his own demons that did it? The book was adapted by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori. The current day Alison at 43 takes a look back at her life at three different stages: when she was nine and at 18 as a freshman at Oberlin College. It shows how her relationship with her father changed her as a person in many varied ways. The catalyst for her to examine her life and piece together her memories of the past in the family-owned funeral home was the death of her father and her finding out that he was gay. Director Josh Short helps his talented cast to mine the layers of this well written dramatic script that resonates with the audiences own and varied relationships with their own parents. His brilliant dissecting of each character shows in each and everyone’s performance. The musical direction of Tom Chace is right on the money with upbeat numbers to brighten the somber events as well as poignant and touching ballads that wrench your heart out. He and his eight piece orchestra are excellent with all the various numbers in the show. Choreographer Ali Kenner Brodsky also lightens the mood with terrific dance steps in “Come to the Fun Home” with the children and in “Raincoat of Love” with the whole cast trying to present an ideal family setting a la the Partridge Family. Their combined expertise is rewarded with a spontaneous standing ovation amid tears from the crowd, making this into a must see musical of this spring season.
Short gives each Alison their moments to shine in this show and the incredible two story set by Monica Shinn brings the museum-like feeling of the funeral home which displays the rigid behavior of the father. Trinity Rep Company member Rachael Warren tackles the role of the grown up Alison and makes it her own. She captures the pathos and angst of the character. Alison proclaims she’s a lesbian cartoonist near the top of the show and as it progresses we learn about her childhood with her parents and two brothers. We also observe when she came out when she was a freshman in college. Warren’s songs soars with passion in her heartfelt delivery. “Maps” where we discover life is circle and “This Is What I Have of You” are two examples of her expertise in her craft. She weaves her way in and out of many scenes acting with expressiveness with her lines and sometimes with her reactions to what’s happening to her younger personas. The gut wrenching last scene with her father is electrifying. I can’t believe that it’s been 15 years since I first reviewed Warren as Anybodys in “West Side Story” at Trinity Rep.
Jason Loete, brilliantly plays Bruce, the conflicted man who wants to be a good father, but his inner demons overcome him. Bruce is a funeral director and English teacher. For years he has depressive outbursts with his wife and sometimes ignores his children. When he’s not ignoring them, he has them keep the funeral home in pristine, museum like condition at all times. Loete’s performance is passionate while the character at times is unsympathetic. Bruce never accepted his homosexuality while Alison embraced hers. He is rigid in his ways but at the same time realizes that Alison is gay so he sends her Collette in college. His most outstanding numbers are three between Loete and Warren near the end of the show when father and daughter take a ride together in the car. These three duets are painful to watch because of the raw intensity they convey but are breathtaking, too. His final song “Edges of the World” brings you to tears at his sympathetic delivery with a final tragedy that follows it with the oncoming lights of the truck.
Jennifer Mischley plays Helen, the long suffering wife, splendidly. Helen had a chance to become a professional actress, having studied with Uta Hagen but now must settle to do community theatre while putting up with her husband’s shenanigans. Mischley’s beautiful, heart wrenching song “Days and Days” where she laments her situation in life, tugs on your heartstrings and is one of the best songs in the show. The argument scenes between Loete and Mischley crackle with power and punch.
Shannon Hartman as Medium Alison does an incredible job in this role and she stops the show with her “Changing My Major” when she has sex with her girlfriend for the first time. She is going to major in Joan all semester long. “Come to the Fun Home” with the three kids is hilarious and funniest song in the show. They use a casket in this scene that has to be seen to be believed. Paige Barlow is perfect as Small Alison, displaying an acting ability beyond her years. She’s astounding in this huge role and one of her songs is a definite show stopper, “Ring of Keys” with Alison which depicts the first time she realized she was gay. Her two brothers are marvelously played by Dillon Lightbody and Hayley Pezza. Daraja Hinds shines as Medium Alison’s first love, Joan while Luis Minaya plays the various men in Bruce’s life. Minaya also sings lead vocals for “Raincoat of Love” with some fine dance moves. So for a phenonmenal contemporary musical that will resonate with you from start to finish with the pathos and comic moments blended together, be sure to catch the breathtaking, “Fun Home” at Wilbury Theatre Group. The intimate setting and powerhouse direction bring out the best in this show.
FUN HOME (23 May to 16 June)
Wilbury Theatre Group, 40 Sonoma Court, Providence, RI
1(401)400-7100 or www.thewilburygroup.org
