Tuck Everlasting: The Musical

Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Sarah Charles Lewis in Tuck Everlasting

I have seen a total of three Broadway shows. "Tuck Everlasting" is the first one I've seen based on one of my favorite novels. Its use of ballet was one of the many things that made this show intriguing to watch.

The show is directed by Casey Nicholaw who has previously directed "Aladdin" and "The Book of Mormon" for Broadway. I've seen a touring production of "The Book of Mormon" and knowing the story of "Aladdin", I'm fascinated how Mr. Nicholaw has been able to direct shows of different calibers and be able to bring them to life while staying true to the source material.

The musical is based on the 1975 novel by Natalie Babbitt of the same name. The book is written by Claudia Shear, and the music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen. I read the novel in sixth grade and watched Disney's film adaptation later that year.

In the film, Winnie Foster is 15 old enough to start a romantic relationship with the youngest Tuck son, Jesse who is 17. In the novel Jesse is 17 and Winnie 10. In the musical Jesse is 17 and Winnie 11. Major differences between the film adaptation and the other two, but it is important that Winnie be younger as she can only dream of a future to come with Jesse (played by Andrew Keenan-Bolger in the musical).

Major spoiler coming up, but it is the driving point of the story. Jesse Tuck along with his parents, Mae (Carolee Carmello) and Angus (Michael Park), and his older brother Miles (Robert Lenzi) stopped aging after drinking from a spring in the roots of the oldest tree in the woods. They have not aged and they cannot die either. The tree is the only part of the set that does not move. It is massive and always present.

The musical begins as the Tuck family enter the woods looking for the perfect place to settle. As they pass through, they encounter the spring and drink from it. They sing of the future, of living forever without knowing this is exactly what will happen.

Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Sarah Charles Lewis in Tuck Everlasting

Fast forward many years and we meet Winnie Foster. Winnie is precocious and eager to explore the world around her, but is forbidden by her mother (Valerie Wright) as her husband has recently passed the the family is still mourning. There is a wonderful balance between Mother and Nana (Pippa Pearthree). Mother is strict and very by the book while Nana provides humor to the tense situations between Winnie and Mother. The last straw comes when they are visited by the Man in the Yellow Suit (Terrence Mann). He invites Winnie and her family to the fair, once again Mother refuses, and Winnie escapes to the wood.

She follows her only friend, a toad, deeper into the woods until she spots Jesse drinking from the spring. He is unable to explain why she can't drink from the spring and when his family shows up they kidnap Winnie. She is scared, but as she gets to know the family she begins to care for them. They explain the spring and the life it has brought them and while Winnie is curious, the family believes she will keep their secret as well as that of the spring's.

While I did enjoy the musical numbers there was nothing particularly memorable about them. It's fun to watch them as they happen, but I didn't leave the show with any of them stuck to my head.

The scene stealers were definitely Fred Applegate as Constable Joe and Michael Wartella as Hugo. They, as well as Nana, were guaranteed laughs anytime they were onstage. While the ensemble as a whole was good, those three stood out above the rest.

The book is surprisingly funny. The aforementioned characters are hilarious, but everyone has their humorous lines or moments. It balances out the parts of the show that are quiet and sweet.

"Tuck Everlasting" is an innocent, kid-friendly show, but it does have moments that adults in particular can appreciate. The climax of the show involves the story of life from beginning to end told completely through dance. It's a beautiful way to end a simple show.