Fallen for Falsettos

I didn't know anything about Falsettos before I watched an interview with Christian Borle a few months ago.  He mentioned how much he loved this particular show and how he would sing "What More Can I Say" in college.  I later listened to that particular song on YouTube (Oh the joys of technology!) and realized it's a beautiful song, and understood why he would choose to sing it.  Then after he mentioned it again in an entirely different interview, I sort of had a hunch he was doing the revival.  

Honestly, I'm a sucker for all things Christian Borle - I saw him in Something Rotten!  and LOVED him - so I would have been happy even if he were the only big name in it.  However, when it was announced that Andrew Rannels and Stephanie Block would also be in it, it was a necessity to get tickets.  Honestly, how can you resist this cast?  Later even more wonderful people were added but by that time I already had tickets, so I was just happy.

Now, on paper Falsettos is not a show I should like.  The story centers on a man who leaves his wife and child for another man, which is fine by me.  The problem is that it takes place in the very early 80s - at the start of the AIDS crisis, which means I'd be the one in the audience crying her eyes out.  So I read the book of the musical first, just so I was prepared. And then I cried.  So yeah, it was going to be tough.

And it was.  I cried from pretty much the start of the second act through to the end...  But it was so uplifting and beautiful that it was worth it.  For starters, that cast I was so excited about?  That cast was unbelievably talented and ridiculously good in their roles.  Each one of the 7 cast members had their own song to sing and shine, and they definitely did.  Stephanie Block's "I'm Breaking Down" was definitely a highlight.  She was hilarious!  Christian Borle and Andrew Rannels had some serious chemistry and were the perfect pair on stage, which made the end so much more heartbreaking.  Even the 12 year old that played Christian Borle's son, was just fabulous.  He was adorable, and had some serious musical chops.  I'm sure we'll be seeing even more of him in years to come.  

Added to the beautiful music and the amazing cast, the set was pretty fantastic too.  All of the set pieces were made to fit into a cube - sort of like a puzzle.  The actors moved the pieces to make tables, or sofas, or chairs.  At the very end, when one particular person is missing from the "tight knit family" the actors take one of the center pieces out of the cube, which doesn't sound sad, but I bawled even more when it happened. 

I loved pretty much the entire show (there was a strange number there in the middle, that didn't thrill me...) but most of all, I loved the message.  It was a message of love, acceptance and kindness. The show stresses that tight knit families can be made of many different people - and they don't all have to be related to be family.  I keep coming back to what's happening in the states today with hate and divisiveness, but the world at this moment, could take a page out of Falsettos book and be just a little more open-hearted and love who they love.  Because as the cast sings so heartbreakingly, they're never promised a tomorrow.