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New York Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Just in Time' Review: Jonathan Groff Channels Bobby Darin
When Jonathan Groff says 'I'm a wet man,' he means it. The admission comes near the start of 'Just in Time,' the Bobby Darin bio-musical that opened on Saturday at Circle in the Square. It's a warning to the 22 audience members seated at cabaret tables in the middle of the action that they may want to don raincoats as he sings and dances, sweating and spitting, a-splishin' and a-splashin'. But Groff is wet in another sense too: He's a rushing pipeline, a body and voice that seem to have evolved with the specific goal of transporting feelings from the inside to the outside. A rarity among male musical theater stars, he is thrilling not just sonically but also emotionally, all in one breath. And Darin, the self-described 'nightclub animal' who bounced from bopper to crooner to quester to recluse, is a great fit for him. Not because they are alike in temperament, other than a compulsion to entertain and be embraced by an audience. Nor do they sound alike: Groff's voice is lovelier than Darin's, rounder and healthier. But the Broadway and Brill Building songs Darin sang, some of which he wrote, offer the scale, the snap and the bravura opportunities that are more often, now as then, a diva's birthright, not a divo's. In other words, Groff is sensational. 'Just in Time,' directed by Alex Timbers, with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, at first seems like it will be too. Certainly the opening is a wonderful jolt. Making the smart choice to introduce Groff as himself, not as Darin, the show immediately breaks out of the jukebox box, liberating its songs from service as literal illustrations. My dread that oldies involving the word 'heart' would be shoehorned into the story line about Darin's rheumatic fever was temporarily tamped. Instead, 'Just in Time' begins as a straight-ahead floor show in the Las Vegas style, with Groff, in a perfectly cut suit by Catherine Zuber, buzzing between song and patter while seducing the audience. The set designer Derek McLane has converted Circle's awkward oval into a sumptuous supper club, with silver Austrian draperies covering the walls and clinking glasses of booze at the cabaret tables. A bandstand at one end of the playing space, and banquettes surrounding a mini-stage at the other, suggest a blank showbiz canvas, with flashy gold-and-indigo lighting by Justin Townsend to color it in. Darin, it seems, will be merely a pretext. True, the opening number — Steve Allen's brassy 'This Could Be the Start of Something' — is a song Darin famously sang. And so is the swingy hit 'Beyond the Sea,' which comes next. But in big-wow arrangements by Andrew Resnick for an 11-piece combo, they illustrate little more than themselves and the entertainment at hand. At most they suggest Darin subtly, in their desperation masquerading as charm. The relief of that subtlety lasts only a while. 'Beyond the Sea' soon leads us back to Darin's contentious childhood in East Harlem. There, Groff drops his own persona and enters that of the sickly boy born Walden Robert Cassotto in 1936, indulged by the maternal Polly (Michele Pawk) and fretted over by the sisterly Nina (Emily Bergl). Nina's fretting is justifiable: A doctor has decreed that Bobby will not live past 16. Trying to keep him from excitement, she treats him like an invalid. But Polly, a former vaudeville performer, wants him to make the most of whatever time and gift he has; if he's an invalid, she says, 'he's an invalid who's going to be a star.' She teaches him songs and how to perform them: Hands, she says, are 'your real backup singers.' That's a neat touch because we've already seen in Groff's performance how the adult Darin absorbed the lesson. His madly expressive hands do nearly as much dancing (choreography by Shannon Lewis) as the three women in silver-spangled minidresses who accompany his bandstand numbers. The scenes of his early professional efforts maintain some of that charm, and the songs are legitimate examples of what Darin was singing at the time. (Mostly jingles and rip-offs.) But as the emotional biography takes precedence, jukebox-itis sets in and the tone goes haywire. Darin's youthful courtship of the rising star Connie Francis (Gracie Lawrence) is played for laughs, even the part about her mafia-adjacent father threatening to kill him. Still, by hook or crook, it leads to her singing her 1958 megahit weepie 'Who's Sorry Now?' More troubling is the show's treatment of his subsequent relationship with the teenage Sandra Dee (Erika Henningsen). Introduced inaptly with Darin's self-pitying 'Not for Me,' Dee, already the bubbly star of 'Gidget,' quickly devolves into a hard-drinking virago after their marriage and the birth of their son, Dodd. But unlike Darin, Dee is given no pass. That she was repeatedly raped by her stepfather over a period of four years, starting when she was 8, is relegated to a throwaway line ('You don't know what happened when I was a kid') that no one new to the story could possibly interpret. Though 'Just in Time' does not completely whitewash Darin — it has been produced with the cooperation of Dodd Darin, whose 1994 book about his parents is very frank — the show does seek to soften and in that way excuse him. A dotted line connects his mistreatment of Dee to his chaotic upbringing. The narcissism others accuse him of — which he calls egotism, thinking that's better — is chalked up to perfectionism. The constant churn in his relationship with collaborators, managers and record executives, played by various ensemble members, is depreciated as the cost of artistic growth; he's a savant and a dreamer, not just a purveyor of novelty numbers like 'Splish Splash.' Some of these tonal problems are mitigated by having Groff play him: We like Darin more than the facts (and his scary hit 'Mack the Knife') suggest we should. That was also the case in Groff's performance as the (fictional) songwriter Franklin Shepard in 'Merrily We Roll Along,' for which he won a Tony Award last year. In some ways reversing the trajectory of that character, Darin bumps from idealism to disillusion via divorce and alienation. But Shepard is a successful antihero because 'Merrily' is carefully constructed to dramatize the path. A quasi-concert cannot do that, especially with songs written for other reasons. As the angst of the story takes over, and the tunestack dives into B-sides, 'Just in Time' succumbs to narrative arthritis, its plot points scraping against each other and baring the show's revue-like bones. (It began as a 2018 'Lyrics & Lyricists' concert at the 92nd Street Y, based on a concept by Ted Chapin.) All the symptoms are there: the collar-yanking segues, the undigested Wikipedia backfill, the unlikely news bulletins. 'There's important things going on in the world,' Darin helpfully informs Dee and us. 'Vietnam. Civil rights.' By the time of his death, at 37, in 1973, the show's final descent into lugubrious eulogy — 'He finished six years of grammar school in four years and got a scholarship medal besides,' Nina says — has swamped its early buoyancy with platitudes. Yet Groff is still swimming, right to the end. Dismayed as I was to endure so much else, I have to admit he's giving one of Broadway's best performances. So who's sorry now?
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Weekend things to do: ‘Funny Girl,' Hollywood ArtsPark Experience, an Almodóvar party, Amy Winehouse tribute
Who knows why a song achieves uncommon popularity in its time, then endures beyond that context to be cherished by generations to follow? The ballad 'People' went from the Broadway stage in 'Funny Girl' to the pop chart in 1964, introducing the stunning voice of Barbra Streisand to the Top 40. What was it about her lonesome plea, 'People, people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world,' that resonated across the country at that moment? What was going on in 1971 that encouraged Carole King's 'You've Got a Friend' — another attempt to lift the veil of loneliness — to hit No. 1 and then win Grammy Awards for her songwriting and James Taylor's performance? Why, that same year, did pop star Neil Diamond have a hit with 'I Am … I Said,' a deeply personal piece of solitary self-analysis written 'to no one there.' This weekend thousands of us will commune in South Florida theaters to sing these lyrics together, which is the best way to remember them. The greatest star: A love letter to the theater that follows comedian and Broadway star Fanny Brice from her days as a young striver on the Lower East Side, the iconic musical comedy 'Funny Girl' brings its memorable score ('People,' 'Don't Rain On My Parade,' 'I'm the Greatest Star') to the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach through Sunday. Part of the Kravis On Broadway Series, weekend performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $50+ at Hits kept on comin': Carole King's unlikely rise from Brooklyn teen to top songwriter at the famed Brill Building and later chart-topping performer, provides the story of 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton. Filled with show-stopping sing-alongs such as 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,' 'It's Too Late,' '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' 'Up On the Roof' and 'So Far Away,' weekend performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Performances continue through Feb. 16. Tickets start at $89+ at Solitary man: It's closing weekend at Fort Lauderdale's Broward Center for a jukebox musical devoted to another Brill Building writer, 'A Beautiful Noise' with the songs of Neil Diamond. Starring singer-actor Nick Fradiani (as seen on 'American Idol'), the nationally touring Broadway production includes all the hits ('America,' 'I Am … I Said,' 'Holly Holy,' 'Song Sung Blue,' 'Forever in Blue Jeans' and 'Sweet Caroline') but also emotional peaks and valleys that left South Florida Sun Sentinel reviewer Rod Stafford Hagwood singing its praises. Weekend performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $45+. Visit More old favorites: Classic rockers Ambrosia ('How Much I Feel,' 'Biggest Part of Me,' 'You're the Only Woman') perform at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton at 6 and 9 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are down to standing room for $55.25. Visit Thursday laughs: Actor, author, comedian and podcaster Adam Carolla is at the Boca Black Box in Boca Raton on Thursday for shows at 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets remain (mostly for the early show), starting at $48+. Visit Future laughs: Comedian Nate Bargatze has added a third show, this one a 3 p.m. matinee on June 14, when his Big Dumb Eyes World Tour hits Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. A presale begins at 10 a.m. Thursday on the Hard Rock Facebook and other social pages (password: AVERAGE), with the rest of the tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at The other shows are at 8 p.m. June 13-14. Grecian yearn: The food! The wine! The music! The food! The annual Fort Lauderdale Greek Festival returns to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church this Thursday through Sunday, offering family friendly entertainment, rides and, yes, amazing food. If you are looking to get your loukoumades on this weekend, this is the place. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 (free on Thursday with a canned food donation). Free entry for kids younger than 12, military and public safety employees. Visit Dark shadows: Belarusian post-punk trio Molchat Doma, who traffic in a particular form of electronic nightshade, play Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. Tickets for the all-ages show start at $34.50+. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit Night of Almodóvar: The weekly Art After Dark party at the Norton Museum of Art in downtown West Palm Beach will conjure the distinctively color-saturated vibe of Pedro Almodóvar on Friday night, highlighted by two short films by the revered Spanish director from 7 to 8 p.m.: 'The Human Voice' and 'Strange Way of Life' (starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal). The gathering also will include collage-making inspired by colors and imagery of Almodóvar's work, '80s and '90s hits from DJ Rumble, and docent tours of popular exhibits 'Sorolla and the Sea' and 'Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing.' Art After Dark tickets cost $10, $5 for students, and can be purchased at the reception desk or in advance at Parking across the street costs $6. Ticket window: Country king Morgan Wallen is on his way to South Florida, with tickets for July 11-12 concerts at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on sale starting at 10 a.m. Friday at … Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Def Leppard will play Hard Rock Live in Hollywood on Aug. 29. Tickets (starting at $75+) will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at See the Hard Rock Facebook page for information on presales. … Grammy-winning rapper GloRilla will bring The Glorious Tour to the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, March 10, with tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at . … Rock chameleon Ryan Adams will bring his Heartbreaker '25 World Tour to The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on July 26. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Friday night live: Lifehouse vocalist Jason Wade brings a new acoustic show (featuring Lifehouse's greatest hits and songs from his solo records) to the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $35+ at … TobyMac brings his Hits Deep Tour, with Crowder and other faith-based stars, to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available, starting at $20+, at … The Weight Band, including members who have played with The Band and Levon Helm, perform at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $60.42 for general-admission standing room. Visit More laughs: Part of the 'Kill Tony' podcast mafia, comedian William Montgomery will perform at the Dania Improv in Dania Beach at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $28+ at Friday tributes: Popular Eagles tribute band The Long Run is at Galuppi's in Pompano Beach on Friday from 7:30 to 11 p.m. General admission is $10. Visit … Tricia Danieli will bring her Amy Winehouse tribute to Revelry in Pompano Beach on Friday from 8-10:30 p.m. Admission is free, but it couldn't hurt to reserve your spot at … The Brit Pack will offer covers of everyone from The Beatles and The Who to Radiohead, Oasis and Tears for Fears at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50+ at Outside art: The 38th annual Museum Art Festival will unfurl at Mizner Park Amphitheater on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., showcasing the work of more than 170 artists from around the world. During the festival, the Boca Raton Museum of Art will host interactive art-making sessions and family activities, while offering 50% off admission to see its acclaimed exhibit 'Splendor and Passion: Baroque Spain and Its Empire.' Admission and parking are free. Visit Groovin' in the grass: The Rhythm Foundation and the city of Hollywood will kick off a new season of the free Hollywood ArtsPark Experience concert series on Saturday with a performance by LA LOM in the Young Circle bandshell beginning at 7 p.m. The instrumental trio, whose name is an acronym for The Los Angeles League of Musicians, epitomizes the series' eclectic groove, mixing cumbia, '60s soul ballads and classic boleros. Admission is free with RSVP at Farm dinner:Chef Dan Ramos will host another Farm to Table Dinner at Red Splendor Farm in Loxahatchee Groves on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. Taking place under the farm's Blue Barn veranda, the evening begins with a welcome mocktail, followed by a four-course dinner that concludes with tea service and dessert. Tickets cost $130 (taxes/fees included). Visit . For details on the menu, visit . Clove love: The 26th annual South Florida Garlic Fest takes place at Wellington Town Center on Saturday (11 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) to celebrate the glorious possibilities of the fragrant bulb, from garlic ice cream and beer to the irresistible candied garlic bacon. There will be plenty of live music on both days, including Fort Lauderdale jam band The Heavy Pets as the headliner on Saturday (7:30-9 p.m.). I caught them for the first time in a while during last Saturday's '80s-themed Space of Mind fundraiser, and the elastic journey they took on the A-ha classic 'Take On Me' was kind of stunning. Festival admission is $16.39, with free entry for children age 9 and younger. Visit Wine me up: Sidewalk Bottle Shop, the inviting natural wine hang in Fort Lauderdale's Progresso neighborhood, will celebrate its third anniversary on Saturday with 'an old-school rager' beginning at 7 p.m. There will be winemakers (@ taco makers (@thewolfoftacos) and scene makers (@shithousemouse). It will be a good place to be. Visit Love potion: Florida Grand Opera will perform Donizetti's romantic romp 'The Elixir of Love' at the Arsht Center in Miami at 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets start at $86.50+. Performances will be sung in Italian with English and Spanish surtitles. Visit SUNDAY Dropping in: Multi-instrumentalist classical and folk musician Leyla McCalla, a cellist with the Grammy Award–winning string band Carolina Chocolate Drops before she embarked on a solo career, will be in West Palm Beach on Sunday to perform in the Kravis Center's intimate (285 seats) Rinker Playhouse, as part of the venue's consistently rewarding PEAK Series. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert start at $25+. Visit Sunday thoughts: If you are AI-curious, on Sunday the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will screen 'The Thinking Game,' a compelling documentary that follows Nobel Prize-winning scientist Demis Hassabis' quest to find the limits of Artificial General Intelligence and its ability to self-teach as a path to solve some of the world's biggest problems. The film's approachable style won over audiences at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. FLIFF will show 'The Thinking Game' at 1 p.m. at Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and 3 p.m. at Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood. Tickets cost $12, or $10 for seniors. Visit Horn of plenty: Platinum-selling trumpeter Chris Botti will perform at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Sunday, with some tickets available starting at $75+. Visit On Monday at 8 p.m., Botti will be at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $35+. Visit Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@ Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and X @BenCrandell.
