April 27, 2024: Today, Saturday, was a two-show day with productions that couldn’t be more different. At the matinee I saw Appropriate, an intensely dramatic look at a highly dysfunctional family. And in the evening I saw a recently opened dance concert/musical, Illinoise, that challenges what a musical is.
Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins in his Broadway debut, is dysfunction on steroids, a coming together of three squabbling grown siblings after their father has died, with long-held grudges and secrets. In a strong ensemble cast, Sarah Paulson and Corey Stoll are standouts. Alas, because it was previously produced off-Broadway, it is considered a revival for Tony Award purposes.
On the other hand, Illinoise is a likely nominee for best musical, even though none of the principal performers sing or recite dialogue. It’s a dance concert, and a very creative, dramatic one, choreographed and directed by Justin Peck, who created the dances for Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. His cast of dancers are endlessly energetic and nimble. I’m not sure I got everything Peck was trying to communicate with the dances, but they are thrilling to watch.
Next: Last day in New York, last show on my dance card. It’s The Outsiders, based on S.E. Hinton’s best-selling novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s subsequent movie version.