Gee, October already and I've yet to post. Sorry, but the Review Preview got stuck in transit. It follows here. Note that I've piggybacked a review from the Growing Stage to the much-anticipated review of Paper Mill's "Happy Days: A New Musical." Give it a read and give them a try, especially if you have kids.
Looking ahead, 8 plays in the next 4 weeks.
Bonus review: Never would have though to combine the two, but the curried cashews my wife brought home from her trip to Vermont were delicious.
Believe me, I know my nuts, and these were some quality nuts.
If you want to go:
What: “Happy Days: A New Musical”
When: through Oct. 28
Where: Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn
How much: $25-92
Info: (973) 376-4343; www.papermill.org
If you want to go:
What: “The Dinosaur Musical”
When: through Oct. 21
Where: The Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, 7 Ledgewood Ave. (Route 183), Netcong
How much: $10-14
Info: (973) 347-4946; www.growingstage.com
By WILLIAM WESTHOVEN
Staff Writer
Two musicals premiered on Morris-area stages last week that transport their audiences to times past. One is clearly aimed more at older audiences, but neither really speaks to the grown-up that may or may not be in some of us.
Paper Mill Playhouse opened its 2007-08 season with the recycled nostalgia of “Happy Days: A New Musical,” while the Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, passed nostalgia and proceeded to prehistoric for “The Dinosaur Musical.” Both have their strong points, though the latter accomplishes its mission more consistently than the former.
Of course, Paper Mill has a larger and more demanding audience than the Growing Stage and, given its well-documented financial difficulties, there’s a lot more at stake. Paper Mill ran out of money and nearly closed before the end of last season, so it’s reasonable to assume that one more box-office failure could again cripple the state’s largest professional theater.
So it’s a relief to report that “Happy Days: A New Musical” should keep the ticket sellers busy. Based, of course, on the long-running TV sitcom, “Happy Days” has the color, pizazz and energy to attract a large audience already presold on the concept. A wide swath of baby boomers will find plenty to like about this staged reunion of beloved characters, including Richie Cunningham, his pals and, of course, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli.
“Happy Days,” which is touring regionally with hopes of making it to Broadway, also comes with a pedigree of sorts, with book by legendary TV producer Garry Marshall and new original tunes by songwriter Paul Williams. Both were at Sunday’s press opening, yukking it up onstage with the audience before the opening curtain.
“Hello rich people,” said Marshall, who produced TV’s “The Odd Couple,” “Happy Days,” “Mork and Mindy” and “LaVerne and Shirley” (which starred his sister, Penny Marshall).
Williams, looking fit and healthy, sported a spiky new hairdo, referring to his once infamously long blond locks as from “my Haley Mills look-alike period.”
With budding journalist Richie (red-headed Rory O’Malley) serving as a narrator of sorts, the Jefferson High gang from Milwaukee is still hanging out at Arnold’s malt shop in 1959, but Arnold (Michael J. Farina) is worried his land may be grabbed by developers who want to build one of those newfangled mall things.
Richie’s dad, Mr. C. (Patrick Garner), and his fellow Leopard Lodgers hatch a fund-raising scheme to save Arnold’s by staging a wrestling match between Fonzie (Joey Sorge, a dead ringer for Henry Winkler, right down to the subtle overbite) and the rival Malachi Brothers. But with former flame Pinky Tuscadero (Felicia Finley) back in town, and nursing a bum knee, Fonzie’s off his game.
No need to discuss the plot further, but a convenient dance contest gives the ensemble a chance to strut, while recycled jokes from the series are updated by a few in-jokes. Richie gets the best one: “I can usually solve my problems in a half-hour, but this one’s a doozy!”, while Arnold blows off a merger meeting by some guy named Denny.
People with no recollection of the 1950s or the series may wonder what all the fuss is about, but that still leaves a few million people in the Tri-state area who might find a connection here. It runs out of steam well before its ending — something that Broadway audiences won’t tolerate — but “Happy Days” is a cute show with a very appealing cast.
Meanwhile, if your idea of nostalgia is the Jurassic age, or if you have kids who think 1959 was the Jurassic age, “The Dinosaur Musical” is equally cute, with wonderful songs (including “Spaghetti,” which doesn’t fit the show but is still a highlight) and a cast featuring six Equity professionals. The actors have fun wearing silly costumes and telling silly jokes, but there’s a story to follow as well, as the carnivores work together to establish a food chain that doesn’t involve eating each other. And the tickets ($14 adults, $10 children) won’t put quite the bite on your budget that a visit to “Happy Days” ($25-$92) will.
Looking ahead, 8 plays in the next 4 weeks.
Bonus review: Never would have though to combine the two, but the curried cashews my wife brought home from her trip to Vermont were delicious.
Believe me, I know my nuts, and these were some quality nuts.
If you want to go:
What: “Happy Days: A New Musical”
When: through Oct. 28
Where: Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn
How much: $25-92
Info: (973) 376-4343; www.papermill.org
If you want to go:
What: “The Dinosaur Musical”
When: through Oct. 21
Where: The Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, 7 Ledgewood Ave. (Route 183), Netcong
How much: $10-14
Info: (973) 347-4946; www.growingstage.com
By WILLIAM WESTHOVEN
Staff Writer
Two musicals premiered on Morris-area stages last week that transport their audiences to times past. One is clearly aimed more at older audiences, but neither really speaks to the grown-up that may or may not be in some of us.
Paper Mill Playhouse opened its 2007-08 season with the recycled nostalgia of “Happy Days: A New Musical,” while the Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, passed nostalgia and proceeded to prehistoric for “The Dinosaur Musical.” Both have their strong points, though the latter accomplishes its mission more consistently than the former.
Of course, Paper Mill has a larger and more demanding audience than the Growing Stage and, given its well-documented financial difficulties, there’s a lot more at stake. Paper Mill ran out of money and nearly closed before the end of last season, so it’s reasonable to assume that one more box-office failure could again cripple the state’s largest professional theater.
So it’s a relief to report that “Happy Days: A New Musical” should keep the ticket sellers busy. Based, of course, on the long-running TV sitcom, “Happy Days” has the color, pizazz and energy to attract a large audience already presold on the concept. A wide swath of baby boomers will find plenty to like about this staged reunion of beloved characters, including Richie Cunningham, his pals and, of course, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli.
“Happy Days,” which is touring regionally with hopes of making it to Broadway, also comes with a pedigree of sorts, with book by legendary TV producer Garry Marshall and new original tunes by songwriter Paul Williams. Both were at Sunday’s press opening, yukking it up onstage with the audience before the opening curtain.
“Hello rich people,” said Marshall, who produced TV’s “The Odd Couple,” “Happy Days,” “Mork and Mindy” and “LaVerne and Shirley” (which starred his sister, Penny Marshall).
Williams, looking fit and healthy, sported a spiky new hairdo, referring to his once infamously long blond locks as from “my Haley Mills look-alike period.”
With budding journalist Richie (red-headed Rory O’Malley) serving as a narrator of sorts, the Jefferson High gang from Milwaukee is still hanging out at Arnold’s malt shop in 1959, but Arnold (Michael J. Farina) is worried his land may be grabbed by developers who want to build one of those newfangled mall things.
Richie’s dad, Mr. C. (Patrick Garner), and his fellow Leopard Lodgers hatch a fund-raising scheme to save Arnold’s by staging a wrestling match between Fonzie (Joey Sorge, a dead ringer for Henry Winkler, right down to the subtle overbite) and the rival Malachi Brothers. But with former flame Pinky Tuscadero (Felicia Finley) back in town, and nursing a bum knee, Fonzie’s off his game.
No need to discuss the plot further, but a convenient dance contest gives the ensemble a chance to strut, while recycled jokes from the series are updated by a few in-jokes. Richie gets the best one: “I can usually solve my problems in a half-hour, but this one’s a doozy!”, while Arnold blows off a merger meeting by some guy named Denny.
People with no recollection of the 1950s or the series may wonder what all the fuss is about, but that still leaves a few million people in the Tri-state area who might find a connection here. It runs out of steam well before its ending — something that Broadway audiences won’t tolerate — but “Happy Days” is a cute show with a very appealing cast.
Meanwhile, if your idea of nostalgia is the Jurassic age, or if you have kids who think 1959 was the Jurassic age, “The Dinosaur Musical” is equally cute, with wonderful songs (including “Spaghetti,” which doesn’t fit the show but is still a highlight) and a cast featuring six Equity professionals. The actors have fun wearing silly costumes and telling silly jokes, but there’s a story to follow as well, as the carnivores work together to establish a food chain that doesn’t involve eating each other. And the tickets ($14 adults, $10 children) won’t put quite the bite on your budget that a visit to “Happy Days” ($25-$92) will.
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