Photo Source: The New York Times
When Disney produces Tony Award winning musicals, you must take note. As soon as the cast of Newsies gathered together for the opening ensemble number, Carrying the Banner, I remembered why I insisted on seeing this show a second time.
Newsies is an incredibly high-energy show with flawlessly synchronized choreography that includes pirouettes and tap dancing. It’s a charming tale about the underdog fighting against a corporate giant. The story follows a group of poor boys who sell newspapers, or “papes,” as they call them.
There’s Crutchie (Zachary Sayle), who walks with a cane. “I don’t need a limp to sell papers, I’ve got personality,” he says. Crutchie lives with Jack (Dan Deluca), who loves his friends in New York, but dreams of a better life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dan Deluca is a capable leading actor and his character’s signature move, spitting before a handshake, made me smile every time.
Conflict arises when the newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer raises the cost of newspapers. “Anyone who doesn’t act in his own self-interest is a fool,” he proclaims. Joseph is fed up with declining newspaper sales and the boys are fed up with their lack of rights. Furious about the price increase, the boys form a union and go on strike, while joining forces with newsies across New York.
Soon thereafter, a young reporter writes a story about the newsies’ predicament and her story makes front-page news, above the fold. Katherine (Stephanie Styles), the upper-middle class woman who doubles as Jack’s love interest, reminded me of Mad Men’s Peggy Olsen. Independent and career-driven, she’s like Peggy except with better vocal chords. What I didn’t like, however, was the forced relationship between her and Jack, as I didn’t sense any real chemistry between the actors.
One of the best pieces of advice comes from Governor Teddy Roosevelt (Kevin Carolan) at the end of the script. “Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground,” he tells Jack. Teachers should make posters with that quote to hang in classrooms.
Seize the day, as the song goes, and buy tickets to see Newsies at Ed Mirvish Theatre. You won’t regret it. After all, as Jack’s friend Medda Larkin (Angela Grovey) says, “Where better to escape trouble than a theatre?”