Falsettos at The Other Palace
The double Tony Award-winning Falsettos is a fast-paced musical spectacular that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next. It revolves around the life of gay Jewish New Yorker Marvin (Daniel Boys), his wife Trina (Laura Pitt-Pulford), his lover (Oliver Savile), his young son Jason (Albert Atack, George Kennedy, Elliot Morris and James Williams), the family’s psychiatrist (Joel Montague) and the two lesbian neighbours (Natasha J Barnes and Gemma Knight-Jones).
Created by James Lapine and William Finn, this ground-breaking musical is set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, one of the most devastating periods in the history of the gay community. However, though it successfully and sensitively explores the most complex family dynamics and human emotions right to the very end, Falsettos remains uplifting and satirical at heart. The portrayal of modern family life consistently rings true even as the show progresses towards a heart-breaking conclusion.
Each cast member undoubtedly offers an incredible performance, with notable choreographic excellence courtesy of director and choreographer Tara Overfield-Wilkenson. However, Trina (Laura Pitt-Pulford) is the standout in this production. She consistently delivers a believable portrayal of a wife dealing with unresolved feelings towards her ex-husband, the unexpected outcome of her marriage and the reconstruction of familial expectations. Pulford’s performance is deeply emotional yet brilliantly comedic and in particular, solo number I’m Breaking Down is a tour-de-force which meets with enthusiastic applause.
Falsettos premiered on Broadway in 1992 and soon became one of the most significant cultural responses to the AIDS crisis. When the play made its revival in 2016, marriage equality in America had just been passed. In 2019 the play celebrates how far society has come, whilst acknowledging the history of struggle experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. The show creates a unique and poignant theatrical experience in a superb dedication to this hardship and progress, with every performance rooted in authentic emotion, whether that be sadness or joy.
Grace Walsh
Photo: The Standout Company
Falsettos is at The Other Palace from 30th August until 23rd November 2019. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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