Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The current Broadway National Tour to play the historic Hanover Theatre in Worcester is “A Bronx Tale, the Musical” which is based on the play by the same name. The book is by Chazz Palminteri while the music is by Alan Menkin, and lyrics by Glenn Slater. The original one man play was a story of a young New York boy’s tough childhood in the 1960’s where he is torn by his father’s old school ethics and a life of crime which is based on Chazz’s traumatic childhood encounter with murder. It is a coming of age story about reaching your full potential and trusting your heart. This version took ten years to write and be developed from a one man show eventually being adapted into a new musical. It premiered at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey on February 4, 2016. It opened on Broadway on December 1, 2016, ran for 700 performances and was co-directed by Robert DiNero, who directed the original film, and Jerry Zaks who directed the one man show in 2007. This touring version is directed by Stephen Edlund. The fabulous high energy choreography was by Sergio Trujillo in the original Broadway show while the touring choreographer is Britanny Conigatti. Conductor David Alan Brown keeps the harmonic balance between the performers and his 10 piece orchestra splendidly with the dance numbers performed in perfect unison. This coming of age musical will leave you laughing and crying in all the right spots. Bravo on a job very well done and a spontaneous standing ovation as its reward.
Tall, dark and handsome Alec Nevin leads the cast as Calogero and delivers a tour-de-force performance. He runs the gamut of emotions in this role from confidant swagger, know it all attitude to a kinder more understanding person when calamity hits him and his friends. He moves you to laughter in the lighter moments but also tugs on your heartstrings at the tragic moments in the second act when he delivers the pathos in spades. Nevin also narrates the show, weaving in and out of scenes as well as playing the teenager, too. His strong voice is displayed with young Calogero in “I Like It” when Nevin takes over the role, in “Ain’t It the Truth” with his school friends and in two duets with Jane. “Out of Your Head” when they think of all the obstacles to their relationship and “In a World Like This” when they decide what to do. Nevin’s strong falsetto soars in this latter number. Keep an eye on this young man, it won’t be long before he’s on Broadway.
Daniel Rosenbaum, the understudy stepped up to play his patient, hard working bus driving father, Lorenzo and delivers a flawless performance. The heart and soul of this show is in the father/son relationship and how it grows then falters during adolescence and becomes strong again once the teenager learns from life’s hard knocks. The saddest thing in the world is wasted talent the father tells the little boy and makes him promise not to waste it. This bit of wisdom is imparted to little C during “Look to Your Heart”, a poignant emotion packed song sung perfectly by Rosenbaum. He also makes the little boy return his crap winnings to Sonny and tells the hoodlum off. At the end of Act 1 warns his teenage boy in “These Streets” about the hardships of life in 1968 which becomes a poignant tug of war between Lorenzo and Sonny on who will help shape his future. He also counsels him about his romantic relationship with an African American girl with an argument. But at the end of the show Lorenzo reconciles his differences with Sonny, the mob boss and his son, which leads to a tearful and heartfelt scene between father and son as the company sings “The Choices We Make” as the curtain falls with the whole audience in tears.
Jeff Brooks plays Sonny, the mob boss of Belmont Avenue in the Bronx. He rules the area with fear and love, keeping all Bronx citizens on their toes. When little C witnesses a hit near the start of the show is where Sonny and the boy make a connection that lasts many years. Their relationship grows from the boy’s childhood in “Roll Em” where the gangster teaches the little boy how to roll craps, when he’s a teenager the advice he gives is in “Nicky Machiavelli” where he teaches him to control people with love or fear. Sonny learned a lot through books when on vacation during his jail terms. A motorcycle gang shows up during the Nicky song and the gang shows them not to mistake kindness for weakness. Sonny also teaches Calogero about romancing a girl when he lets him borrow his car for a date with Jane. He explains in “One of the Great Ones” how you have 3 romances in life and how to look for them. Brooks excels in this latter number, performed tongue in cheek about jingling the car keys which the women like with hilarious results. This song is reminiscent of “Timeless to Me” from “Hairspray.” Sonny even though he’s a flawed character also displays his positive side when dealing with the boy by telling him to let your talent guide you and saving him from Calogero’s stupid friends reckless behavior.
Trey Murphy plays little C excellently and when he and Alec are side by side during “I Like It” reprise, they really look like each other and that is what he will look like when he grows up. Trey expertly delivers his funny one liners and when he breaks down into tears when his beloved Yankees lost to the Pirates in the World Series is definitely a standout comic moment. Trey’s voice soars in his big number “I Like It” when he learns how to handle fame with his friendship with Sonny teaching him how to roll craps. This young boy also dances up a storm with the chorus members and also handles the tender scenes between father and son. Broadway is definitely in store for this young boy who displays talent beyond his years. Stefanie Londino plays his mother, Rosina who dotes over the little boy but when he grows up offers him her wisdom about his father’s love for him in “Look to Your Heart’ as she explains that Lorenzo was once a young man with dreams of his own but once Calogero came along, the father had to face reality and do what was best for his family. Londino tugs on your heartstrings in this role.
Kayla Jenerson plays Jane, his girlfriend whom everyone disapproves of because of her color. The black versus white sentiment was strong back in the 1960’s where you stayed in your own territory and didn’t wander into forbidden areas. The African American girl with Italian American boy was taboo. Jenerson does a dynamic job in this role and as Jane sings “Webster Avenue” with her brother, Tyrone and their friends to kick off Act 2 with a high energy song and dance. Her flirting with Cologero is comical but when tensions rises later on, she delivers the goods in the dramatic moments, too. Her voice also soars in “Out of Your Head” solo and duet as well as the powerful “In A World Like This” duet with Alec. George Vickers V plays Jane’s brother, Tyrone who has a rumble with the Belmont Avenue gang which Calogero breaks up. They have an argument where Tyrone denies C didn’t try to help him out with a racial slur occurring. However Jane obtains the truth from her hotheaded brother. The chorus members and supporting cast do a splendid job dancing and singing as well as with the comic bits as each hoodlum is introduced with a camera and light clicks on them as if taking their head shots at the police station. Each of them has an hilarious name ala “Guys and Dolls”, Damon Runyan fame. “Roll Em” is also a gambling scene dance reminiscent of “Luck Be A Lady” with the little boy throwing the dice to win money for Sonny. The only thing is when one of Sonny’s hoods upsets him, he has them locked in the tiny bathroom. Some fun dance numbers include “Belmont Avenue”, which opens the show with high energy that never stops, “Ain’t It the Truth” and “Webster Avenue” with the most frightening number being “Hurt Someone” where racial tensions explode with tragic results. Also a traumatic event takes place near the end of the show where Calogero finally realizes what his path of life must be. A good lesson that should be learned in these troubled times, too. So for a contemporary musical that reflects on events of the past that still resonate today, be sure to catch the National Tour of “A Bronx Tale, The Musical” at the historic Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA before they dance their way out of town. This National Tour is a must see winter musical.
A BRONX TALE, THE MUSICAL (16 to 19 January)
Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA
1(877)571-SHOW or www.thehanovertheatre.org
