2013 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

March 20, 2013: Musical Review - Encores! "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!"

Encores! Bob Madison attended the opening night of Encores! revival of the musical "It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman", currently enjoying a run of seven performances at the New York City Center from March 20 through 24, and has written his review of the stage production.

    Encores! has done a fabulous job with the revival, and the loving attention to all things Superman is evident in the City Center lobby itself: man-size screens play the original Max Fleischer Superman animated cartoons, as well as display Superman drawings by celebrated comics artist Curt Swan. (Watts' Clark Kent suit is a wonderful evocation of artist Swan's mid-60s business attire.)

    The score was meticulously recreated - originally, roadshows and touring companies used a score considerably scaled down. Encores! found the original orchestrations, and Rob Berman does a fabulous job with the orchestra.

    The show is designed with a distinct Mad Men sensibility; and with the Daily Planet office romances the choice is perfectly sound. (One could only wish for a period Superman film - any period from the 30s to the 60s!) The direction, by John Rando, maintains a zippy pace and finds just the right note between musical comedy and actual sentiment.

    There are several excellent numbers in the First Act, including the show-stopping "You've Got Possibilities", where Sydney tries to seduce Clark Kent. Mencken, a Brylcreem-ed narcissist to put any hipster to shame, has a wonderful song of self-adoration with "The Woman for the Man"; and "We Don't Matter at All", performed by Adam Monley as scientist Jim Morgan, temporary love interest to Lois Lane, is particularly sweet.

Read Bob's complete review at his blog: The Jade Sphinx.



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