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TUCK EVERLASTING--THE MUSICAL Send This Review to a Friend
Natalie Babbitt’s children’s novel “Tuck Everlasting” has been turned into a charming musical that should appeal to family audiences. The fantasy story of everlasting life and appreciation of what can be enjoyed in the normal life cycle is told with panache and winsome acting, abetted by the imaginative woodsy set design by Walter Spangler. One can sit back and give oneself over to the good vibes from the pleasant book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federe, the music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen. Casey Nicholaw has directed and choreographed the mix with a tone that is easygoing and inviting.
The premise at the core of the story is that drinking from a magic spring will give everlasting life. Examples of this can be found in the Tuck family, which attempts to guard its secret. Carolee Carmello is outstanding as Mae Tuck, Michael Park is solid as the father, Angus, and their two sons are played by Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Jessie, who is 17 but, thanks to the magic drink, is really 102, and Robert Lenzi as his brother Miles.
Into their lives arrives Winnie Foster, an 11-year-old girl played and sung with show-stealing charm by Sarah Charles Lewis. Before that, we see how she longs to escape from her home, where her mother (Valerie Wright), still grieving over the death of her husband, keeps a tight rein on Winnie, even denying her the chance to go to the circus. Her only excitement is the frog that has become her pet.
Once Winnie is with the Tucks, kidnapped in fear of what she has learned and could tell about the spring, the romantic aspect takes old. Jessie falls for Winnie and wants to wait until she is 17 and then let her drink the water so they can marry into everlasting happiness. Meanwhile, Winnie’s mom is desperate to find her.
Every show like this must have a villain, and he is The Man in the Yellow Suit, played with evil glee by Terrence Mann, who wants to find the life-giving spring and make money from it. He is in hot pursuit of Winnie. Also looking for her on behalf of her mother is Fred Applegate as Constable Joe, with his sidekick Hugo (Michael Wartella). Applegate is quite entertaining and looks as if he could do a good job playing W. C. Fields.
When Winnie is finally given a bottle full of the coveted water by Jesse, she passes up the everlasting life opportunity and gives in to her frog. It doesn’t take any genius in anticipating plot turns to know that the frog will be sure to turn up alive years from then.
The circus scene depicted is colorful and the choreography by Nicholaw is spirited. Note that unlike some shows in which the women dancers tend to be sexy looking long-stemmed beauties, the attractive dancers here are of modest height and mostly with movements that fit into the family-oriented atmosphere.
The major choreographic coup comes after Winnie opts for her normal home environment, and we see the life cycle depicted beautifully as Winnie has a son, ages, becomes a grandmother etc., as we watch the generational flow through dance. This is a show in which, for one family, life goes on and on, and for the other, time passes as usual. And the time you pass in the theater can be quite enjoyable. At the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street. Phone: 212-239-6200. Reviewed May 1, 2016.
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