***** I love to laugh! My readers and listeners know that I live for comedies! I also love Sondheim, and one of his famouse lines is “Tragedy tomorrow, Comedy tonight! I truly feel that the Goodman Theatre’s new comedy, “Iceboy!”, now on the stage in the Albert theatre is a comedy that would make him proud. I also feel that Mel Brooks, and the Monty Python crew would also be smiling. With a book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss, music by Mark Hollmann, who also wrote lyrics along with Reiss, this is a play within a play that is narrated by non other than Eugene O’Neill ( an amazing performance by Nick Offerman, who narrates the story and puts himself in several scenes.
The story takes place in the 1930’2 , New York. Broadway’s shining star, Vera Vimm ( played to perfection by Megan Mullaly) is the biggest and best. Everyone loves her both on and off stage. She decides to bid on a 40,000 year old Neanderthal frozen in ice. She adopts him, so that he will have a moother and she will have a family, only to find that her “Iceboy” ( a sparkling interpretation by Grey Henson). As he thaws out and takes on a personality that we didn’t expect, he turns out to be someone special garnering the attention of all Broadway and also and inspiration for O’Neill, who hadn’t written anything for years.
The show is filled with cute musical numbers, and while you probably will noy be humming anything on the way out, you will probably be laughing so hard, many of the funny lines will be missed ( you might plan on seeing the show twice to just to cover this).
Smoothly directed by Marc Bruni on a wonderful set designed by Paul Tate Depoo III, and with some slick choreography by Joann M. Hunter, this is 2 hours and 25 minutes ( one 15 minute intermission) of sheer beauty in comic storytelling. Lots of inuendos, double entrende’s and some pretty silly moments, including a traditoon that is unlike anything every mentioned in “Fiddler on The Rook”! The lighting (Jen Schriver) and sound ( Connor Wang) are perfect and Linda Cho’s costumes are terrific.
The ensemble backing up Henson, Offerman and Mullally, while small in numbers is huge in talent and make this production truly work. Hats off to Sarah Stiles ( a delight), Cedric Yarbrough as Floyd Richards, Alex Goodrich as Frankenstein ( be prepared for a special breakout by him ),Donterrio, Melanie Brezill, Will Koski ( who reminds me more of Frank Galati each time I see him on a stage), Linda Mugleston, Shawn Pfautsch and Andrea San Miguel with swings ( Jeff Parker, Leah Morrow and Will Lidke) great work!
The orchestra under the leadership of conductor.piano player Vadim Feichtner is strong with reeds (Steve Leinheiser & Linda Van Dyke), Carey Deadman on the trumpet,Rachel Castellanos on trombone, Christian Dillingham on Bass and Jim Widlowski on percussion/drumset. While a small orchestra, a huge sound!
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Iceboy!”.
More Stories
“La Boheme” Opera Fesitival of Chicago reviewed by Frank Meccia
“The Second City e.t.c.’s 50th Revue “Reality Detox: The Improv Experience” reviewed by Paul Lisnek (Curtain Call Chicago)
“A Little Night Music” reviewed by Julia W. Rath