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New York Post
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Just in Time' review: Jonathan Groff parties like it's 1965 in stellar Bobby Darin musical
Theater review JUST IN TIME Two hours and 20 minutes, with one intermission. At the Circle in the Square Theatre, 235 West 50th Street. That a musical about the too-short life of Bobby Darin, the 1950s and '60s crooner who notched a string of hits before dying young at 37, would turn out to be one of the most wondrous of the season was not on my Broadway bingo card. He wasn't a Michael Jackson or a Tina Turner. And even though Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons came shortly after him, their show 'Jersey Boys' feels like a Broadway of a bygone era. Advertisement But director Alex Timbers and his irrepressible star Jonathan Groff have made magic with 'Just in Time,' which opened Saturday night at the Circle in the Square Theatre. For a little over two hours, there's nowhere you'd rather be than at this dazzling dream of a New York that truly never slept, presided over by a Harlem-born singer whose output was so rich and rapid-fire that the man must have been fueled by the dire prognosis he received as a child: Darin wasn't supposed to live past 16. 'Just in Time' is a wallop of joy, though. And while it doesn't shy away from Darin's heart struggles, anatomically and romantically, the musical is never gloomy. Advertisement What's astounding is how the show manages to be, at once, both jukebox retro and to-the-minute fresh. Too often, onstage musician biographies are tethered to and limited by twitch-perfect impersonations and the same old scene-song-scene-song formula. They're judged, clinically, like Madame Tussauds wax replicas. What Timbers, Groff and designer Derek McLane do instead is conjure the electricity of a late, boisterous night at the Copacabana. 5 Jonathan Groff plays singer Bobby Darin the new Broadway musical 'Just in Time.' Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Advertisement The audience is situated in a sumptuously imagined, sparkling silver nightclub with multiple stages and a brilliant band in back. Groff spiritedly darts around the room, jumping on tables and dancing with ticket-buyers like the consummate host. The actor, bursting with charisma, sweeps away the old radio static from Darin's classics like 'Mack the Knife,' 'Dream Lover' and 'Beyond the Sea' with his silky tenor. Groff, by the way, is introduced as, well, Jonathan Groff. 'I'm Jonathan, and I'll be your Bobby Darin tonight,' he announces. The actor also amusingly points out we are, in fact, in the basement beneath 'Wicked.' The self-reference (he even jokes about his well-known habit of spitting when he speaks) is a shrewd move by book writers Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver that allows Groff to become Darin in his lively essence rather than a pile of pat mannerisms. Advertisement 'Bobby wanted nothing more than to entertain,' Groff adds. And then he fabulously follows in his footsteps. 5 Erika Henningsen plays Darin's wife Sandra Dee. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Much of 'Just in Time' is a fantastic party. Ditties such as 'Splish Splash' that the younger set will think is a parent's baby-talk become surprise showstoppers. Timbers, who also directed the atmospheric ragers 'Moulin Rouge' and 'Here Lies Love,' brings his unique sense of fun to material that doesn't obviously scream out for it. Lo and behold, it's some of the best work of his career, and just what this limping genre needed — like Baz Luhrmann and 'Elvis.' Darin's turbulent life offstage is covered, too, though not exhaustively or exhaustingly. His relationship with Connie Francis (Gracie Lawrence), who he wrote songs for before he hit it big, and his rocky marriage to movie star Sandra Dee (Erika Henningsen) show the personal toll of fame. 5 Michele Pawk's Polly plays a major role in the darker second act. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Lawrence — whose name sounds like she could've landed a record deal in 1965 — makes a terrific Broadway debut with a striking voice belting out tunes like 'Who's Sorry Now?' And Henningsen has real authority with the more full-throated emotional arc as her marriage collapses in the public eye. Bobby also loves and spars with his mother Polly (Michele Pawk) and sister Nina (Emily Bergl), who concealed an existence-altering secret from him for almost his entire life. Advertisement The darker second act, needless to say, does not fizz as much as the more innocent first. 5 Emily Bergl's Nina has kept a secret from Bobby for a lifetime. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman But, much like Hugh Jackman as Peter Allen in 'The Boy From Oz,' the excellent musical thrives on Groff's natural effervescence and ability to connect so deeply and personally with audiences. 'Merrily We Roll Along,' which he won a Tony for last year, was a giant leap in his maturity as an actor. I'd actually seen him play Bobby in an early version of this musical seven years ago at the 92Y. Groff sounded great as ever then, but the gravitas and world-weariness of a man who's fully aware his time is short weren't there yet. Advertisement 5 Groff nails the part of a talented entertainer who knows he's running out of time. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Well, they are now. And how. The Broadway season ends today. One of its most enjoyable shows has arrived just in time.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Daniel Radcliffe puts on a loved up display with his glamorous long-term girlfriend Erin Darke as they make a rare red carpet appearance in New York
Daniel Radcliffe put on a loved up display with his long-term girlfriend Erin Darke as they graced the red carpet at the opening night of the Broadway musical Just in Time on Wednesday. The Harry Potter actor, 35, seemed to be in high spirits as he turned up to watch the new Bobby Darin musical at The Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City. He looked dapper as he stepped out in a smart grey suit layered over a colourful pastel yellow and green shirt. The actor added shiny brown brogues to complete his outfit as he wrapped his arm around his stunning girlfriend. American actress Erin, 40, looked ethereal in a cream and pink frilly floral maxi dress, which cinched in at the waist before flowing out into a long skirt. She wore her long brunette tresses in loose curls and opted for a glowing palette of makeup to elevate her natural beauty. The Harry Potter actor, 35, seemed to be in high spirits as he turned up to watch the new Bobby Darin musical at The Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City The smitten couple, who have been together since 2012 and welcomed their first child in April 2023, appeared to be on cloud nine as they shared a joke on the red carpet before heading inside. Daniel and Erin first met on the set of 2013 American biographical drama film Kill Your Darlings. They played a couple in the film, with Daniel later admitting that he was immediately attracted to Erin. Last year, the British actor picked up his first ever Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Tony for Merrily We Roll Along - and made rare comments about Erin and their son in his speech. He said: 'My love, Erin. You and our son are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you so much. Thank you so much' - as a tearful Darke watched from the audience.' He added: 'Thank you so much. Okay, I'm going to just talk fast and try not to cry.' It comes as Daniel is yet to speak out after JK Rowling has been celebrating the Supreme Court's landmark judgment that trans women are not legally women. Harry Potter stars Daniel. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson who have v ocally opposed her stance on gender identity have so far stayed silent. Justices in London ruled last week that in the 2010 Equality Act, the definition of the term 'women' relates only to biological women. He looked dapper as he stepped out in a smart grey suit layered over a colourful pastel yellow and green shirt The smitten couple, who have been together since 2012 and welcomed their first child in April 2023, appeared to be on cloud nine as they shared a joke on the red carpet before heading inside It comes as Daniel is yet to speak out after JK Rowling has been celebrating the Supreme Court's landmark judgment that trans women are not legally women Judge Lord Hodge warned against taking the ruling as a 'triumph' for either side, but gender critical campaigners have celebrated the finding as a victory. Multi-millionaire author Rowling, who reportedly helped fund the women's rights campaign group which brought the Supreme Court case, shared a photo online from on board her $150 million superyacht puffing a cigar in celebration. She told her 14.3million followers on X, formerly Twitter: 'I love it when a plan comes together.' Yet while she has been commenting at length on social media about the Supreme Court decision, fans have noted the apparent silence from stars who featured in the blockbuster movie adaptations of her Harry Potter books. Daniel, Emma and Rupert have spoken publicly in support of gender ideology - that biologically male trans women should be regarded as women. And they have each commented in opposition to Rowling's views on the issue, while expressing their gratitude for her role in their careers. The author herself appeared to aim a jibe at them last month, when sharing on her X account a response to another user who asked: 'What actor/actress instantly ruins a movie for you?' Rowling wrote: 'Three guesses. Sorry, but that was irresistible.' And she previously indicated in April last year she would not forgive Radcliffe nor Watson as she criticised celebrities she said had 'cosied up to a movement intent on eroding women's hard-won rights'. On that occasion the multi-millionaire author hit out at stars accused of using their 'platforms to cheer on the transitioning of minors' after the release of the long-awaited Cass report into gender treatment in the UK.
