WHYYYY.... NOT? // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "TONY & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA"

BY MATEO MORENO

In January 1994, the "thwack heard round the world" occured. Those who had never watched Figure Skating in their lives would soon be glued to their television sets. In Detroit, Figure Skating champion Nancy Kerrigan got clubbed in the knee by hired thug Shane Stant while she practiced for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The press coverage was instantaneous, and fingers started pointing in the direction of rival skater Tonya Harding. The battle between the two began, and everyone in the world followed it. The first scandal of its kind is now a musical in the form of TONY AND NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA now hitting the NY stage by way of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

We all know the story. Nancy came from a middle class background and was a great skater that was often shaken by her nerves. Tonya came from a low income background. Her mother was described as "white trash" and made most of her costumes. She was also the first women ever to land a triple axel, but always seemed to be trailing behind Nancy. So when Kerrigan was attacked, it was quickly traced back to her ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and most pointed fingers at her. Here, we see the girls tell both sides of the story in an overblown and ridiculous fashion. Tracy McDowell (Motown, RENT) plays Tonya Harding with mischievous glee. She's spunky and on fire, with killer comic timing to match. Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked) is less successful with her take on Kerrigan. She does bear a similar resemblance to the famed skater, but many of her vocals seem shaky and unsure. He acting is mostly solid, though the character doesn't have much to do but look bland. Throwing Kerrigan a few comic lines here and there would help the characterization out a lot. It's possible that Green was just off on the night I saw her, or that the role is vocally wrong for her. That being said, when she's confident on the song (and usually singing full voice) she sounds great. The same shakiness cannot be said for McDowell. Her killer riffs and soaring vocals are a perfect match and she slays each tune given to her. It's a role she's relishing being in, and the audience is right with her every step of the way. Playing both Nancy and Tonya's mothers, Liz McCartney (Annie, The Phantom of the Opera) is clearly having a ball, and it shows. She's a true delight to watch, hamming up for every moment to perfection. Tony Lepage (Rock of Ages) is also a kick to watch as Jeff Gillooly. His vocals are tremendous and the scenes between he and Tonya are some of the best in the show. Heidi Friese as Oksana Baiul and others also impresses. Her voice is great, her dancing spectacular, and is a tiny little spitfire of energy.

This being a festival, I don't expect the show to be perfect, and it certainly isn't. But it's heading in the right direction. Much like former NYMF festival favorite "Feeling Electric" it hasn't quite nailed the landing yet. That show, with extensive reworking, later won three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was also renamed "Next to Normal." Now I'm not trying to compare the two, other than showing how some rewrites will help in the longrun. Director David Alpert (If/Then) stages the proceedings with fast and loose energy but since it is a rock show, the weak sound design often drowns out some of the vocals. Elizabeth Searle has written and often clever book, and her lyrics (with assistance from composer Michael Teoli) are witty as well, but needs some polishing. Some songs can be cut altogether while others are strangely short. However, like I stated before, it's heading in the right direction and with a bit of elbow grease, a snip here and a new song there, this could be a surprise and funny hit Off-Broadway. Maybe Tonya and Nancy will even show up on opening night.

MATEO'S GRADE: B

Concept, Book, and Lyrics by: Elizabeth Searle. Music and Additional Lyrics by: Michael Teoli Directed by: David Alpert. Starring: Tracy McDowell, Jenna Leigh Green, Liz McCartney, Tony Lepage, Heidi Friese. For Tickets: Currently all shows are SOLD OUT. Any remaining tickets and information can be found at http://www.nymf.org/festival/2015-events/tonya-nancy-rock-opera

 

MATEO MORENO recently won a bet on who could hold their breath the longest underwater. He won the bet, having beat local loudmouth Jimmy "Thunderbird" Thomas with a record breaking "fourteen minutes." True, part of that time was him unconscious and the other part was him being revived, but he still counts it, and is now $20 richer. Take THAT Thunderbird! He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.