IF/THEN
What a privilege it is to hear Idina Menzel sing in person. Actually, the entire cast of If/Then can really song. And that’s the main attraction of this show–it’s not the music, per se, or story, or even the acting, although that’s all good, too.
But the superior voices are a joy to listen to. So, if you’re a fan of music, at all, you must go see this show at the Pantages Theatre while you have the chance. (All the info is at the bottom of this column. And I’m making the review brief, so you can run right out and get tix, because it’s in Los Angeles only though this week-end!)
Another good thing about the show is the casting. For once, we can believe that every character is who they say they are, in both scenarios that are being portrayed.
Ah, there’s the rub–the dual stories of one girl’s life. You know I rarely tell you the plot of shows, so that you can just let them unfold before your own eyes, as I do for myself, but this one does need a bit of explanation. I realized pretty quickly what was happening, although it’s incredibly subtle. (I guess they figure that all reviewers and friends break it down for future play-goers, so most of you know the story going in.) But the friend I saw this Broadway musical with had no idea what was going on. When I explained it at intermission, she was still confused.
So, here it is: Idina plays a girl whose life could have gone one of two ways, if she had made a pivotal decision on one plain little day in a park. Since I first learned the Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken, in seventh grade, (which has always been my favorite literary endeavor since then, no lie,) I’ve thought of that possibility ever since. I’m forever grateful for all the tiny, seemingly innocuous decisions that got me together with Mr. X, and think of them often. (Much to the chagrin of the people I constantly thank for their roles in those choices!)
So, back to If/Then. The musical plays out the lead’s choices simultaneously, thus making it confusing for many. The easiest way to explain it is that when she wears glasses, that’s the way her life would have gone if she had made the choice to stay in the park that day, and when she takes them off, it’s a whole different ball game, if she had gone someplace with an old guy friend. You’ve really got to pay attention to the dialogue to get a full understanding of it all.
It’s a major endeavor to do a musical that way, but this team pulls it off. The show must be exhausting to do, but when I saw it, (the night before the opening, because I had already committed to another event the next night,) the actors all seemed energized by the end! Most of them have been doing this show for over a year now, but they all looked euphoric at the curtain call. That was wonderful to see.
If/Then running through January 3, 2016
Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd. 800-982-2727 www.BroadwayLA.org
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