Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A completist’s dream, J2 Spotlight’s rare revival of THE GOODBYE GIRL charms as it highlights the musical’s flaws

• By drediman
• May 23, 2023
• No Comments

This past weekend, J2 Spotlight Musical completed its 2023 season with a short run of The Goodbye Girl at Theatre Row. Premiering on Broadway three decades ago, the musical features music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by David Zippel, and book by Neil Simon. Adapted from the 1977 film of the same name, the rom-com musical charts the relationship between Paula, a financially struggling, romantically-burned single mom, and Elliot, an actor endeavoring to break through in the competitive, unforgiving New York theater scene (the roles were originally played by Bernadette Peters and Martin Short, respectively).

Lyricist David Zippel (who is currently represented on the Great White Way — at least for now — for his work on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella) returns to the rarely-produced 1993 show, making small adjustments, as well as a few nips-and-tucks here and there. Indeed, at just over two hours, the musical is briskly plotted and staged (Zippel is also billed as the revival’s director), leaning in on the material’s genial charms, while highlighting its flaws. Most notably, the budding romance between Paula and Elliot seems particularly underdeveloped and rushed. Nevertheless, it was a treat to hear Hamlisch’s tuneful score once again (the scrappy backstage band didn’t quite do it the justice that it deserved), and for completists, the revival shouldn’t be missed.

In terms of performances, the production’s headliner in the role of Paula was inarguably Sierra Boggess. Gutsily cast against type (both vocally and in terms of stage persona), Ms. Boggess made the most of the situation with a performance that nice segues the put-together singing actress from the ingenue roles for which she’s been known. Unfortunately, Tony-winner Santino Fontana was sidelined with Covid and had to bow out of the run (I missed the energy he would have brought to the revival). In his place as Elliot was Dan DeLuca, who solidly stepped in with a charismatic if thinly-sung performance. Nearly stealing the show, however, was veteran musical theater actor Christopher Siebert who nailed it, hilariously, in various roles.

SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED

THE GOODBYE GIRL
Off-Broadway, Musical
J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company at Theatre Row
2 hours, 10 minutes (with one intermission)
Through May 21