They might just be “four Jews in a room, bitching,” but their lives are so much more complicated than that! Falsettos, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Finn and James Lapine, is simultaneously a laugh-out-loud comedy and heartbreaking drama about a group of friends living in New York City whose lives intertwine in some very interesting ways. This iconic musical, directed and choreographed by Meredith Shedden, features catchy songs, great performances, and a story that’ll make a little catch in your throat and a tear in your eye.

Falsettos centres around a young boy named Jason. Jason’s parents, Marvin and Trina, are recently divorced, as his father has come out as gay. Marvin’s new partner Whizzer is great with Jason though, and for a while Trina takes care of all three of them. When Trina starts seeing Marvin’s therapist Mendel is when things really get complicated! In act two, we meet “the lesbians next door” Charlotte and Cordelia, who end up becoming just as influential on Jason’s life as the rest of his family. The play takes us from Jason’s boyhood to his Bar Mitzvah as the adults around him try to help him navigate this momentous time in life.

Veronique Beaudet’s costume design, along with Robin Kadirgamar’s set and prop design, transport us to the late 80’s with their windbreakers and pattered sweaters. I really like the “March of the Falsettos” baseball uniforms too, the numbers on their jerseys were so funny and fitting. They make great use of the Annex Theatre space, using the tiled floor for the games of chess, but also for a very moving end scene.

The cast of Falsettos is fantastic, each one gives a nuanced and energetic performance. At the heart of the show is Max Goodman as Jason; I could not be more impressed with this budding young star. He handled several solos, company numbers, and plenty of choreography like a seasoned pro, and certainly deserves all of the encouragement and excitement from the audience. Matching Goodman’s energy perfectly is Joshua Kilimnik as Mendel. There’s a kindness and passion in Mendel’s character and Kilimnik performs it so well. His enthusiasm was palpable throughout the production and he was a joy to watch. Taylor Long gives a moving performance as Marvin; his character goes through so much and Long does it all with grace. Olivia Daniels’ Trina is beautifully neurotic and delightfully funny. Randy (Lei) Chang plays Whizzer and I loved his whole essence on stage; he’s immediately likeable even when he’s being a little mean. Luca McPhee and Mona Hillis play Charlotte and Cordelia, and they add such a dynamic dimension to the production. Their joy and care in their roles shine through.

You won’t want to miss Falsettos; this is a play which is just as necessary now as it was when it was initially written. Make sure you catch this dazzling cast before they close on April 27th. For more information and tickets, visit: https://bowtieproductions.ca

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A note to the reader: Unfortunately, I was held hostage at a traffic light and missed the first minute or so of the show. I watched the majority of the opening number from behind the scenes, and then was seated in a fantastic seat for the rest of the performance.

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Cover photo: (l-r) Olivia Daniels as Trina, Randy (Lei) Chang as Whizzer, Taylor Long as Marvin, Joshua Kilimnik as Mendel, Max Goodman as Jason

Photo Credit: Valentina Caballero

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