FUN HOME,the Musical

Ellie Caulkins Opera House: 1/10 – 1/22

The cast of Fun Home,The Musical (Photo credit: Joan Marcus)

     Ground breaking and heart opening, “Fun Home” is a landmark musical that cries out to be seen.

    Based upon the true-life story of Alison Bechdel, which she depicted in her best-selling graphic novel, the show won five Tony Awards including one for Best Actress in a Musical for Colorado’s own Beth Malone.

     The musical introduces us to Alison at three different ages – and played by three wondrously talented actors: Kate Shindle is Adult Alison, Alessandra Baldacchino plays Small Alison and Abby Corrigan portrays  Medium Alison.

     Ms. Shindle is also the President of Actors’ Equity Association and the author of the book about her time “Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain.”

     Ms. Baldacchino’s rendition of the now famous “Ring of Keys” stuns.

     Robert Petkoff, who portrays Alison’s father, Bruce, recently starred as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in the DCPA Theatre Company’s “Sweeney Todd.” He also portrayed Achilles and Orestes in Sir Peter Hall’s 9-hour masterpiece, “Tantalus.”) Here Petkoff does an outstanding job portraying a complex man who, besides being an educator and funeral director, has issues of his own.
 Susan Moniz delivers a poignant portrayal of  Alison's mother, Helen, a woman fighting a losing battle in her crumbling marriage.

      David Zinn’s nicely appointed set is moved on and offstage smoothly and noiselessly. The onstage orchestra is smashing.

     The show is a class act from start to finish and the onstage talent uniformly excellent.

     We’ve had plenty of musicals about gay men.  However … this is the first time to this reviewer’s knowledge that the American Musical Theatre has given us a musical about the coming of age of a woman who just happens to be a lesbian.

     As adult Alison revisits her childhood and adolescence through the filter of Lisa Kron’s book and lyrics, which are so lovingly embraced by Jeanine Tesori’s music, you may find "Fun Home" just as cathartic as she did.Marlowe's Musings

For tickets call 303-893-4100 or go online at denvercenter.org