I would love to write a thoughtful, creative, intelligent review of the new show at The Ahmanson at The Music Center. Of course, I'm making an assumption that some of my reviews have actually been thoughtful and creative, but you might well disagree. Either way, I'm just slapping this review together because I don't have time to do more. And yet - I can't let this show go by without comment.
Leap Of Faith stars Brooke Shields and Raul Esparza. I'd never heard of Raul Esparza, in spite of the fact that he's been nominated for four Tonys, but I promise you, I will never forget his name. He was a revelation. To steal a line from an L.A. Times review because I'm too lazy to think of one myself, " Jonas....is (sic) played by the seductive Raul Esparza, a Broadway star whose energy is as fierce as his talent." I'm not sure I used "(sic)" correctly, but you get the idea. The dude is unbelievable. I will see anything he's in. Always. Forever.
Brooke Shields isn't new to the stage. She's worked on Broadway in Cabaret, Wonderful Town and Chicago. She's not a great singer. But she does ok. And she's a good actress. And it's fun to watch Brooke Shields on stage. It worked for me.
Leap Of Faith is based on the 1992 Steve Martin movie, and if you didn't like it, don't let that scare you. I think this musical is a huge improvement over the movie. To give you a thumbnail of the plot: Jonas Nightingale is a "preacher", who, along with his choir of fabulously talented singers, goes from small midwest town to small midwest town holding revivals and basically ripping off the locals. Brooke Shields is one of the locals, and Jonas falls for her and her young son, and that changes everything.
The songs in this show are the kind you'll remember long after you leave the theater. There's one in particular - it's called Get On The Bus, and it's a showstopper. Literally. We couldn't stop clapping. Oh that all musicals were like Leap Of Faith.
For tickets, for to www.centertheatergroup.com
For discount tickets, check out www.goldstar.com.
Leap Of Faith ends Oct. 24th, 2010.
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