(THEATRE'S LEITER SIDE is now a book--two books, in fact. No, make that three books! The first covers the 2012-2013 season, when, at the age of 72, I began reviewing plays. It contains full reviews and shorter comments on 150 shows, as well as a brief memoir on how I got into this critical mess. The 2013-2014 season follows, with 300 substantial reviews, so many it had to be published in two volumes (May to November; December to April). Both are available at affordable prices (paperback and Kindle) at Amazon.com. Christmas is coming so why not consider them as gifts for your theatreloving friends and family? Click here for more information.)
(For the past few years, Theatre’s Leiter Side has enjoyed covering the expansive, community-based, Central Park productions sponsored late every summer by Public Works and staged by the gifted Lear DeBessonet. For some reason, however, I wasn’t invited this year. When the blog's talented guest reviewer, Elyse Orecchio, informed me that she had seen the show, I asked her to review it and she was kind enough to oblige. I hope you enjoy her commentary. SLL)
"Heroism and Humanity Redefined" ****
by Elyse Orecchio (guest reviewer)
When one of the Muses introduced Hercules in the prologue to the show named after him, all the 30-somethings in the audience leaned forward in anticipation of the
familiar line from another Muse, “Honey, you mean HUNK-ules!”
But it never came. Instead, she responded, “Not to objectify,
but . . . ” And, just like that, it was clear to us 90s kids who knew every word from
the 1997 Disney movie that we were about to watch Hercules: the 2019
edition.
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| Jelani Alladin and company,. All photos: Joan Marcus. |
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| Michael Roberts as Zeus, Tar-Shay Margaret Williams as Hera, and the company of Hercules. |
The Public Theater mounted this musical adaptation of Hercules
in partnership with the Public Theater's Public Works program, which aims to connect people via theatre. They enlisted hundreds of
community members, from choral groups and a marching band to pint-sized children
and white-haired seniors, playing all but the lead characters.
While the stage certainly feels crowded much of the time, this
model works well in the many scenes that take place with sweeping amounts of
Thebians. Kudos to choreographer Chase Brock,
tasked with the feat of having them all dance!
The Delacorte is a fitting backdrop for this world of
gods, titans, townsfolk, and monsters. Dane Laffrey’s understated scenic design
consists mostly of some columns and stairs that are awarded ample displays of
color, thanks to Tyler Micoleau’s lighting. James Ortiz’s multitude of
magnificent puppets bring additional vibrancy to the stage.
This production sure knows its audience, and caters to the NYC theatregoers
with a Hamilton reference (a quote about Hercules Mulligan, naturally), a
Gyro stand, and a city
more concerned with affordable housing than a hero who can whack
mythical monsters.
Happily, the crowd-pleasing moments also include classic favorites
from the film: some of the biggest cheers of the night come from the line,
“Somebody call IX-I-I!” and the opening chords of the song “Zero to
Hero.”
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| Jeff Hiller as Panic, Roger Bart as Hades, and Nelson Chimilio as Pain. |
Directed by Public Works founder and resident
director Lear deBessonet and featuring a new book by Kristoffer Diaz, Hercules
is laden with not-so-subtle references to the
disconnected era we’re living in, with a clear message that there is heroism in
just getting through it. The powerful dare-you-not-to-cry ending has the
community stepping in to fight in place of Hercules (Jelani Alladin), who has
traded his god-like strength for love in a deal with the god of the Underworld
Hades (deliciously delivered by Roger Bart, who sings Herc’s big number, “Go The
Distance,” in the film).
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| Krysta Rodriguez as Meg and Jelani Alladin as Hercules in Hercules. |
This is a detour from the movie plot, and one that
culminates in Alladin’s powerhouse performance of a new song, “To Be Human.” In
the movie, Hercules chooses to remain mortal over joining the gods, but he does
it for love. Now, he professes the power and majesty of toiling through the
days and the strength and unity of a community that toils together. In other
words, it ain’t about a boy being gooey-eyed over a pretty face anymore (though
he’s still that, too).
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| James Monroe Iglehart (Phil), Jelani Alladin (Hercules), and the troupe. |
Modern sensibilities are especially embodied in Megara, Herc’s
love interest and Hades’s reluctant henchwoman. Like movie-Meg, she's forced
by Hades to use her feminine wiles to seek out Hercules’s weakness (he doesn’t
have any, except for his feelings for her). And like movie Meg, she is hardened
toward men after trading her soul to save her boyfriend’s life, only to have
him leave her (she's still reduced to a woman scorned; why this wasn’t
updated, I don’t know). But as bitingly played by Krysta Rodriguez (TV's "Smash"), Meg is far from needing rescuing; good luck to anyone
who tries! Megara has traded her iconic, hip-swiveling dress for a leather
jacket and skinny jeans (costumes by Andrea Wood).
Meg’s rant, “Forget About It,” is one of a
handful of new songs written by the film's composer ,Alan Menken, and lyricist
David Zippel. Others feel like filler, and the song written for Hades, “A Cool
Day In Hell,” is underwhelming, especially considering the underused
capabilities of Tony-winner Roger Bart and comedian Jeff Hiller as Panic,
Hades’s scene-stealing sidekick.
In another shift from the film, Herc’s immortal parents, Zeus and Hera, now passive-aggressively tell their son he lacks what it takes to
become a hero and find his way back to Olympus. It's Hercules’s trainer,
Philoctetes (seasoned Disney vet James Monroe Iglehart [Aladdin]), who allows the
18-year-old to finally be vulnerable--leading to a moving moment in which he-man Hercules breaks down because those closest to him won’t accept him
unless he’s a hero. What makes an impact here is not his fear that he won’t measure
up. It’s Herc’s frustration over the conditions others put on their acceptance
of someone they love. In a time when we are questioning our expectations of
what it means to be a man, particularly a black man, Alladin as Hercules finds
his voice. His bio states, “This is for all those whose shoulders I stand on.”
As for this Disney kid, perhaps my favorite moment of the evening
came after the performance was over. As the audience exited and the orchestra
played the last of the score, the audience yelled in unison, “Yes, indeed!”at
the button of the closing song. Here’s the reference
for those of you over 40 and under 25. It was a wonderfully satisfying way to
end this community experience.
DelacorteTheater
Central Park at W. 82nd St., NYC
(closed September 8)
Elyse Orecchio studied musical theatre at Emerson College, acting at CUNY
Brooklyn College, and English Linguistics & Rhetoric at CUNY Hunter
College. She has worked in nonprofit communications for more than a decade. She
lives in Sunnyside, Queens, with her husband Joe, kids Theo and Melody, and
three cats. eorecchio@gmail.com @elyseorecchio