Being the conscientious reviewer that I am, I spent Monday morning watching the 1992 movie Newsies, in preparation for seeing the much-touted stage version Monday night.
Having revitalized its core business of animated features with such Alan Menken musicals as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, Disney tried a live-action musical 20 years ago with this fact-based saga of the 1899 strike by urchin newspaper hawkers against Joseph Pulitzer, but it flopped at the box office. Eventually, though, the flick gained cult status, enough for the Mouse Factory to reach into its vaults and test the current interest in the material, this time at $125 a head.
Just as I recalled, the movie is a clumsy item with some rousing dance numbers by the ragamuffins. The show, however, has streamlined and clarified the story and made some crafty changes to the story, like giving lead newsie Jack Kelly (the charismatic Jeremy Jordan, recently of the short-lived Bonnie & Clyde) a more central love story. The new script is by Harvey Fierstein, and if it has a gay subtext, I missed it.
The strength of the show (music by Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman) is still in its dance numbers — energetic, acrobatic full-stage productions well-executed by the young cast. (Aside to stage mothers: Get your sons some tap lessons. There is going to be a need for agile, athletic dancers to replace these kids as they age out of the show and, surely, for future road companies of Newsies.)
Disney has coyly announced Newsies as a limited engagement, through Aug. 19 only. Don’t believe it. From the sizeable investment in the show, the well-stocked souvenir stands and the thunderous approval of the sold-out house on a Monday night, expect it to be at the Nederlander Theatre for years to come (unless it transfers to a larger, more convenient location).
Plus, Newsies looks to be the front-runner for this season’s Best Musical Tony Award. Competition is not strong, with only the arty Once — which I see Wednesday — standing in its way. If the Broadway community wants a big honking commercial hit to help business in general, it will probably go with Newsies.
Fashion note: Look for Newsies to bring back the newsboy cap as a popular accessory. They are available for sale at the show for a mere $25 a pop.