Theatre Reviews: Fun Home and The Way We Get By

So many blogs to write so little time, so here’s a delayed post on my theater watching last weekend

FUN HOME

Official Blurb:Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, FUN HOME features music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and direction by Sam Gold, all of whom won 2015 Tony Awards for their work on this production.FUN HOME introduces us to Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family—her mother, brothers and volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father—that connect with her in surprising new ways. This intimate and emotional theatrical experience is performed entirely in the round, bringing audiences closer to Alison’s story than ever before. 

My Take: I saw this at a great moment, on Saturday right before the tony’s. This is however a hard musical to classify. Although it might compete with the big splashy musicals (An won against them) in the Tonys, it its neither big nor sparkly, its in a complete class of its own. No dance just emotions. It is a very intimate show, what i would call a play with music. It is extremely emotional, a very complicated yet expertly narrated subject matter with impeccable performances. I was obsessed with Sydney Lucas, who plays the young Alison, the amount of heart and emotion that she puts into her songs is amazing. It is not an easy watch, its hard, sad and confusing at times, but the fact that it is on stage is a feat of its own. The adaptation of a graphic novel about lesbian awakening into such a smooth and spotless musical is a feat in writing. Did i love the music? not really, it suited the story, but i can only remember two songs that i really enjoyed: Ring of Keys, which was the song that they chose for the Tonys and the hilarious commercial: Fun Home which the children sing. Its a must watch if you love the theater, just be prepared to be depressed for a few hours after.

A clip from Ring of Keys from the Tonys: 

THE WAY WE GET BY

Official Blurb: Meet Beth and Doug: two people who have no problems getting dates with their partners of choice. What they do have, however, is a very awkward encounter after spending one hot night together following a drunken wedding reception they attend. They wake up to a blurry morning where the rules of attraction, sex and society are waiting for them before their first cup of coffee, which leads them to ponder how much they really know about each other and how much they really care about what other people think. The Way We Get By is a play about love and lust and the whole damn thing. 

My Take: This show had so many things that I love!

1. Two amazing actors, Thomas Sadoski and Amanda Seyfried, that i have really enjoyed in other things, and do not disappoint here. Amanda holds her own in the play as actually exceeded my expectations. Yes it did show a bit that it was her first theater engagement as her voice and physicality could be improved, but she was still spectacular. Thomas was a complete revelation. From completely hating his character in The Newsroom, here he makes you fall for his goofiness here quite quickly. THe awkwardness between them was so palatable.
2. Its an intellectual rom com which is totally up my alley.
3. Twists you don’t see coming.
4. Its 80 minutes long, the perfect show when you want some theater but don’t have time or the mental capacity for a long 3 our play (or like me if it was your second show of the day).

Def go see it before it closes!

Some videos from their website: