“Miracle”- A New Musical

Highly Recommended **** I am a Cubs fan! There I said it out loud ( well, at least in italics). This makes the new musical, “Miracle” more loveable for me than it might be for a “southsider baseball fan. This clever new musical with a book by Jason Brett and music and lyrics by Michael Mahler ( with  a special song written by Julian and Rhona Frazin and Larry Novak ) depicting the history of the “lovable Losers” and their fans as they become the “Miracle” winners of the 2016 baseball season. Yes, after 108 years, the “wait until next year” Cubbies take it all, but not just take it-oh, no, not them, they do it in “Miracle” Fashion!

We are lucky to have the world premier of this amazing new musical on one of our intimate stages. That of the Royal George Theatre on Halsted Street. I will say that the stage is a bit awkward with the musicians  in a pit that seems to be an obstacle for the actors. In fact, I would think this play would do better in a smaller, even more intimate space and even if we do not see the musicians, we would be aware that this is live music.

The VERY positive sides to this production: The set by Collette Pollard is amazing. A bar in Wrigeleyville that is run by a family that is in its second generation, leading to the third ( or not!). The bar is called Maggie’s. It is run by Charlie ( Brandon Dahlquist, who I know to be a Cub fan, brings a wonderful quality to this character). Charlie was a baseball player in college and played with some guys who ended up going pro. Maggie was his dearly departed mother who with his father Pops ( the always reliablec and loveable Gene Weygandt) kept the family tradition alive.

He is married to Sofia (Allison Sill is a delight) a school teacher and they have a daughter, Dani ( Amaris Sanchez is not only fun to watch, you feel as if she could easily be the inspiration for what we watch during this 2 hours and 25 minutes of theatrical experience). NOTE: as is the norm with young actors, Elise Wolf plays this role on alternate dates.

This is the family. One where baseball, and in particular, the Cubs, has been a part of their lives for years and years. There are several patrons, who are also friends that make this show work as well. Jonathan Butler-Duplessis is Larry/South Side, an attorney that has worked at the bar for many years ,Babs ( deftly handled by Veronica Garza) is a tenant in the building and a mechanic who hangs out with the family on game days ,and the other tenant is

souvenir hawker Weslowski ( Michael Kingston at his best!) who also plays a slime-ball, Sleaze, a competitor who wants to buy the bar to regenerate the area for the new generation fans. While he handled both roles with great dignity, I am thinking that they might consider having another actor added to the cast who can play Sleaze and the Doctor in the later scene where Pops ends up in the hospital.

The show moves well with a set that is easily converted from scene to scene with the aid of the actors. The wall coverings of the bar are extremely authentic. From what I hear the Co-Producer William A. Marovitz was in charge of this. He was also the co-creator of the show along with Julian Frazin ( who I had the pleasure of sitting next to on opening night) and every detail of this production is flawless under the careful direction of Damon Kiely and the smooth choreography of Dina DiCostanzo. The musical direction by Kory Damielson ( at the piano) along with his musicians, Charlotte Rivard-Hoster, Nick Graffagna, Justin LaForte and David Victor sounded great and made Mahler’s music truly memorable.

Mahler is , in my opinion, a musical genius and is able to create words that help to truly propel the story. Songs such as  “Fly the W”, “I’m Out”, “Maggie’s “, “What’s The Pitch”, ,” Do The Superstition”, “Break the Curse”, “Look For A Miracle” among others along with the special song that was created by the Frazin’s “The Voice Above The Crowd” all work towards telling us the story of a family that has lived a love of Cubs and then, when the going gets rough, and then rougher, tries to get out, only to find that the one thing they could truly use, a MIRACLE, takes place. Could it be? Yes, it could be” WOW!

The show is not for every community. I doubt that it would go over well in Cleveland. Or for that matter on 35th street, but it is a solid show that like, “Bleacher Bums” could play well in any area where Chicagoans have moved . The tech aspects of this show such as the videos from actual games (Mike Tutaj), the props ( Angela McLLvain), costumes (Izumi Inaba), sound ( Ray Nardelli) and lighting (Christine Binder) are all top-notch.

“Miracle” is playing at The Royal George Theatre, located at 1641 N. Halsted on what is being called open end ( “if audiences love it, they will remain). “Miracle” is definitely a “feel Good” entertainment that will play better with Cubs fans, but even those who are not into baseball will walk away with a warm fuzzy feeling. Yes, even though we know the outcome as we enter the theater, you will get caught into the excellent characters. As I said earlier, Mahler is a genius, but the music belongs to the show and the story. which is where it should be.

Performances are:

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Tickets range from $59- $79 and are available at:

Box Office: 312-988-9000 or www.miraclethemusical.com or http://ww.ticketmaster.com

www.theroyalgeorgetheatre.com

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Miracle”

Halsted Street has metered parking on the street as well as garage parking and valet parking at the Royal George.