THE HANGOVER REPORT – Heartfelt if predictable: Alicia Keys’ affecting semi-biographical HELL’S KITCHEN breaks no new ground

Maleah Joi Moon (right) and ensemble in The Public Theater’s production of “Hell’s Kitchen” by Alicia Keys and Kristoffer Diaz (photo by Joan Marcus).

This past weekend, The Public Theater’s highly anticipated new musical Hell’s Kitchen opened Off-Broadway at the Newman Theatre (note that the production’s downtown run is currently completely sold out, although there is chatter of the show’s imminent move uptown). Set largely on the once-gritty streets of the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, the musical taps into the Alicia Keys songbook to depict the R&B star’s semi-biographical coming-of-age story.

Although there’s absolutely nothing groundbreaking the show, it’s nonetheless a well-crafted work of musical theater. For the most part, Keys’ recognizable pop/R&B hits — which sound terrific thanks to vibrant orchestrations and exceptional sound design — fit surprisingly well into Kristoffer Diaz’s thoughtfully devised book. The result is a heartfelt if predictable musical that’s ultimately a celebration of New York — its unique spirit and the storied possibilities it holds for those willing to chase their dreams — as much as it is about Ms. Keys’ upbringing. Relative to other jukebox musicals, Hell’s Kitchen eschews lightly-veiled self-aggrandizement in favor of a grounded human story. Indeed, the work — which smartly focuses on only a sliver of Keys’ life — does well to carefully develop its dramatic stakes, as evidenced by a number of genuinely affecting moments of payoff between 17-vear-old Ali and key people in her young but angst-filled life — namely, her overprotective mom, her regal piano teacher, and her misunderstood love interest.

Slickly directed by Michael Greif (whose staging strikes me as a combination of his work in Rent and Dear Evan Hansen), the production also features the great Camille A. Brown’s dynamic and emotive choreography, which contributes significantly to the flow of the show. In Maleah Joi Moon, a star is born. Making a high profile professional debut as Ali, the sensational 21-year-old is a complete natural — sounding uncannily like Beyoncé and emanating a spunky yet immensely likeable stage presence. Also delivering prominent performances are veterans Shoshana Bean and Kecia Lewis, both forceful in their own manner as Ali’s mom and piano teacher, respectively.

RECOMMENDED

HELL’S KITCHEN
Off-Broadway, Musical
The Public Theater
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Through January 14

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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