Theatre Review: Bandstand The Musical Honors The Reality Of War With Swinging Dazzle
SYNOPSIS: When a national contest to find America’s next music sensation offers a chance at fame and Hollywood fortune, Donny must whip his boys into fighting shape. Teaming up with a beautiful young war widow as their singer, and playing for every voiceless underdog in a world that has left them behind, they will risk everything to redefine the meaning of victory and sing truth to power.
It is hard to not write about Bandstand The Musical with a little tear in my eye. Set in 1945, boys are retuning darker men in this WWII set-up, and Donny Novitski (played by the charming Corey Scott) is one of them. Even though set back in time, the musical is instantly a reminder that America is, technically, still in a war, and talks of WWIII should not be met with cheers. Despite being a musical about swing and dance, of which director and Hamilton choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler wonderfully exemplifies, the cost of war is never unfelt, and the cast is wonderfully chosen to make you, the audience, feel it, as well.
From the beginning, the crowd is made to fall in love with the characters of Bandstand. Corey Scott is effervescent as Donny, and is fantastic guide to the world of war-torn men and women you are about to meet. Brandon J. Ellis is hilariously witty and bright as Davy, who returned from war to drink his sorrows. Joe Carroll is sweet as the confused vet, Johnny, who now has memory and back problems. Alex Bender is noble and intelligent as Nick; who will not a world that loves to call him a “vet’ or “hero” swindle his rights but use him for “photo-ops”. James Nathan Hopkins and Geoff Packard are intense and lovable as Jimmy Campbell and Wayne Wright; two vets suffering from OCD, anxiety, and anger that the lives they left behind before the war are simply that…. left behind. The music of Richard Oberacker and Rob Taylor bleeds with rhythm and pain, as even sparkling songs like, “Just Like It Was Before”, “Ain’t We Proud”, and “Nobody”, never shake off the edginess that war has imprinted on these soldiers and their widows. Laura Osnes as the tragic but kindly optimistic Julia Trojan should, at least, get a Tony- nod. There is a sincerity to her performance and her voice that make her songs like, “Love Will Come And Find Me Again” and “Welcome Home” feel like swinging spears to your heart. Bandstand makes you want to dance to jazz, blues, and swing, but also cry at the realization that its message is right: Wars never feel heroic to its soldiers, and veterans can be made into political props.
There are moments in Bandstand that strike you with its realness and wisdom. One minute you are clapping during “Right This Way” and then you are weeping at “Everything Happens” sung by Julia’s mom, Mrs. Adams (played by smart sass of Beth Leavel). The musical takes you on the emotional highs and lows of its characters like few musicals, currently, on Broadway. Oberacker and Taylor’s music and book and David Korins’ set grab you, and pull you into the mind, heart, and daily experience of soldiers that have a ton of mental and monetary issues that corporations/ politicians exploit but do not help heal. Admittedly, I was saddened at the honest display that soldiers can be made into living ghosts of a war they fought with courage but returned from without any avenue of care. Hence, why the audience gets so involved and cheers as Cleveland’s The “Donny Nova Band” competes in the The Great American Songbook’s Tribute To The Troops; you want them to win because you feel they are deserving, but, as Donny poignantly points, true loss to them does not mean the same after war. Thus, I cannot recommend this exceptional musical enough, and hope it goes on to win as many Tonys for its production, music, choreography, and cast because it makes its audience feel every single emotion. From sadness to bliss, Bandstand The Musical is a full sensory experience that you can get tickets to by Clicking Here.
