Queereaders discussion

Hi guys :) I had just typed out several paragraphs of this review when my browser crashed. Note to self: copy what you've written!

Last week my mother and I caught a showing of Fun Home at the Circle in the Square Theatre. I'm sure we've all heard of the graphic memoir this musical is based on, so I'll jump straight to my thoughts.

My first impression upon taking my seat was how intimate the theater space was. The Circle is a theatre-in-the-round style venue, and it was thrilling to be five feet away from an actor. In fact, personal was the prevailing tone of this play. From the very opening song (which was funny and heartwarming and foreboding all at once), the characters are so well-established that it feels as if you're invading on a private moment.

Adult Alison (played by Beth Malone) was a wonderful narrator and really tied all the personal vignettes together, impressively creating a cohesive story. Little Alison, played by the wonderful Sydney Lucas, was by far my favorite Alison. The talent and potential of this child was radiating off her, especially in the coffee shop number where she sees and sings about a woman who inspires some indescribable feelings in her ("Ring of Keys"). Middle Alison was played by Emily Skeggs. I thought she was overshadowed by the other Alisons, but she did have this fun number about realizing/accepting her sexuality ("Changing My Major"). So freakin' adorable!

Bruce Bechdel was played by Michael Cerveris. His character wasn't quite as bleak and brooding as I remember him being in the graphic memoir, but it's Michael Cerveris. The guys is incredible in everything he does. The dark horse of the play was Alison's mother, played by Judy Kuhn. If I remember correctly, she didn't play a large role in the book, but she got a bit more spotlight in the musical, primarily through the number "Days and Days" (my favorite of the whole show), where she describes living a lie and wasting her life away.

There were a few flashier numbers, but what I loved about the score was how genuinely it depicted each character.

The actual staging of the show was a bit surreal. Set pieces and props dipped in and out of the stage seamlessly. Watching each scene be created felt like watching Alison conjure a memory. The dim lighting was also very evocative, like swimming in a sea of recollections, while the followspots highlighted the true set pieces of the play: the characters. I really like what Brandon Stanton has done with the lighting design. Having each subject lit individually made it feel as if I were following each character living through each event, making it feel that much more personal.

I can't think of any musical that is like Fun Home. It gets rid of the showy and flamboyant elements of the genre and strips it down to something more sincere. I was in a bit of a haze walking out of the theater and I couldn't tell if I had loved the play, but recently I've been thinking about it quite frequently. I hope you guys get the chance to see this show for yourselves, if not for the impressive staging and characters, then for it being the first broadway musical with a lesbian protagonist.

Cheers!

What a wonderful review Lee! - just as good if not better than many newspaper reviews in my opinion. Thanks for posting! I can't wait to see the show when it gets to my coast! This sort of intimate, character driven show is the sort I most like.

There's an LGBT theater in Los Angeles (Celebration Theater) that has shows like that on occasion, and the theather has a horseshoe shaped stage only 3 or 4 rows deep. I remember a modern Central American themed twist on Carmen they put on once where I could feel the vibrations of the dancers' boots through the soles of my feet. Being that close to the actors can create a really special feel! Shows there are hit or miss sometimes but well worth the chance!

Fun home's Tony win for best musical was much deserved. I hope it stays on Broadway for a long time.

Wow, thank you, Greg! I hope that when it gets to your coast the theatre-in-the-round will be retained. Everyone I've spoken to seems to prefer it over the proscenium version.