Birthday observances can convey pleasure, reflection, or a want for a complete life reboot. “Firm” brings all of that and extra, and the Tony Award-winning musical is on the Kennedy Heart for its remaining week.
“Firm” premiered on Broadway in 1970, with enjoyable and introspective music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, one of many giants of American musical theater.
The unique premise of “Firm” is with the lead character “Bobby” celebrating his thirty fifth birthday with expensive pals. A revival of this storyline got here to Broadway on Dec. 9, 2021, when the script was flipped, and Bobbie turned a feminine on this North American tour manufacturing, at present working in D.C.
Britney Coleman performs Bobbie, whose family and friends are involved about who’s retaining her firm. As her character, Coleman is gorgeous, upbeat, and curious, with a glowing soprano voice. She navigates this Sondheim rating with dynamic power. Vitality is a key phrase as a result of Coleman is in each scene of “Firm.” Every scene analyzes what pals take into consideration a non-coupled Bobbie on her thirty fifth birthday.
“So a lot of our scenes are small themes on their very own,” Coleman mentioned in an interview with The Washington Informer. “When the music is available in a scene, it’s a commentary on what occurred.”
Spot-On Performances
Surrounding Bobbie on her birthday are an assortment of well-meaning of us. Katheryn Allison and James Earl Jones, II are Sarah and Harry, a married couple who’ve been collectively for some time.
It felt like they have been always analyzing their marriage however with a number of humor. Javier Ignacio and Marina Kondo are Peter and Susan, a married couple discovering an thrilling strategy to reigniting their marriage.
Jhardon DiShon Milton and Matt Rodin play Paul and Jamie, who, on their wedding ceremony day, one among these guys has chilly ft.
Then there may be Bobbie’s mom, Joanne, performed by Judy McLane, and her present husband, Larry, performed by Derrick Davis. Joanne has been married a number of occasions and is cynical about matrimony, however Larry adores her.
With such a crew round her, it’s no surprise Bobbie could have reservations about coupling with somebody. All through this story, Bobbie considers her state of affairs in comparison with her experiences along with her firm of family and friends.
When she takes up firm with Andy, performed by Jacob Dickey, a flight attendant, it looks like Bobbie’s requirements are low or she has given in to the stress of pals.
Music Value Listening to
This five-time Tony Award-winning revival has retained the massive track performances those that know this musical have come to count on.
There may be excessive reward for the title track, “Firm,” sung by the ensemble; “Girls Who Lunch,” carried out by Joanne, Bobbie’s mom; and the finale, “Being Alive,” the place Bobbie is on stage alone, evaluating her ideas.
“We name it the ‘void’ when Bobbie’s alone on stage. That’s the one second she will get to breathe, assume, and mirror,” mentioned Colemen about her character. “You get to listen to what she’s pondering.”
Sondheim died on Nov. 26, 2021, a couple of days earlier than this revival opened on Broadway. In a number of interviews earlier than the opening, he was excited concerning the route of the musical’s new imaginative and prescient. That was a powerful acknowledgment, as the unique manufacturing of “Firm” obtained 14 Tony nominations and received six.
“Firm” continues its run till March 31.
For ticket info, go to kennedy-center.org.
