Theatre Review: ‘Newsies’ at The Fox

By Manning Harris
fmanningh@gmail.com

Disney Theatrical Productions’ “Newsies,” straight from a two-year run on Broadway, just breezed into the Fox, where it will play through Jan. 25.

With music by Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”), lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein, this production is as slick as can be.

Add Christopher Gattelli’s dazzling, Tony-winning choreography, Tobin Ost’s metallic, multitiered set and direction by Jeff Calhoun, and you’re set for quite a thrilling evening.

In 1889 there was a newsboys’ (newsies) strike against the powerful New York newspapers, particularly Joseph Pulitzer (Steve Blanchard) and his New York World. This really happened.

In the show Jack Kelly (Dan Deluca) and hundreds of often homeless and orphaned children sell newspapers in New York to support themselves. Jack meets Davey (Jacob Kemp) and his younger brother Les (Anthony Rosenthal and Vincent Crocilla alternate). When Pulitzer and Hearst, already wealthy, decide to inflate the newsies’ paper prices overnight—well, it’s just outrageous; and this means that it’s time for the boys to unite and strike! (It sometimes seems the whole world is an offshoot of “Les Misérables.”)

Lest you think the show is totally male, there is a friendly burlesque queen named Medda (Angela Grovey) and our ingenue Katherine (Stephanie Styles), a working girl (not that kind) with a secret. She and Jack hit it off very well; so there’s romance.

But make no mistake: It’s the boys’ camaraderie and especially their bravura dancing that electrify the audience. And such power-dancing! There are so many backflips, cartwheels, leaps, and multi-pirouettes that you may become dizzy. You may even try some yourself. A word of advice: don’t.

The songs are pleasant and serviceable, although some of them start to sound alike (“Carrying the Banner,” “The World Will Know,” “Seize the Day,” “Brooklyn’s Here,” “Once and For All,” and others. By the way, Mr. Deluca and all his fellow actors are first rate talented professionals.

“Newsies” has an interesting history: It started life in 1992 as a flop film starring a young Christian Bale; however, through home viewing and finally DVD’s it began to take on a cult following, largely (but not exclusively) young and female, and they call themselves “Fansies.”

The theatre program said that these fans typically line up to greet the actors at the stage door, bearing gifts from handmade art to cookies. I thought this was mainly PR—until I exited the Fox; and lo and behold, there was a long line of people waiting behind a roped-off area to greet the actors—and hopefully score a selfie. Folks, it’s true. And call me corny, but I think it’s both sweet, and a hoot.

It’s also true that the level of dancing skill in this show is remarkable; these young men could dance anything from “West Side Story” to “A Chorus Line.” The choreography, for me, is the show’s strongest drawing card. Incidentally, “Newsies” also won a Tony for Best Score. And the audience loved it.

For tickets and information, visit foxtheatre.org.