“Maggie” at Goodspeed Musicals by Zander Opper

“Maggie”

Goodspeed Musicals

Goodspeed Musicals is currently presenting the US premiere production of the new musical, “Maggie,” which practically overflows with assets.  As written by Johnny Reid, Matt Murray and Bob Foster, this show features a strong score, an excellent cast, and it is extremely moving.  If “Maggie” doesn’t quite seem ready for New York yet, it is a certainly a very promising musical that deserves to have a future.  The musical takes place in Scotland and it is set from the 1950s to the 1970s.  One problem with the show is that the first act feels a little rushed, especially with the years going by so fast that it is almost hard to keep up.  Still, the second act is much better and the production, as a whole, is top notch.

In a fine cast, Christine Dwyer as the title character is simply outstanding.  Playing a woman who raises three sons alone and has to endure a number of hardships, Dwyer is a knockout and her performance by itself could carry the show.  But the rest of the cast matches her at every step and the direction by Mary Francis Moore is expert and extremely perceptive.  So, if “Maggie” still feels like it needs some more work to be the best possible show it can be, it is definitely compelling and is worth seeing at Goodspeed Musicals, and make sure you bring plenty of tissues.

On the terrific set designed by Beowulf Boritt, “Maggie” begins wonderfully and almost every song in the show is a winner.  Early in the show, there is a strong ballad called “Unbreakable,” which is sung by Maggie and the title of the song typifies exactly the kind of woman she is.  Facing deaths and estrangements in her own family, as well as problems just trying to make ends meet and the clash between religions in Scotland, Christine Dwyer as Maggie is really the rock of the show.  Dwyer gets another good number called “Walk Away,” which she shares with the character of Shug, who is one of Maggie’s sons and who is masterfully portrayed by Jeffrey Kringer.  Sam Primack and Wes Williams play Maggie’s other two sons, Jimmy and Tommy, respectively, and they are both wonderful in their roles.  The song for Primack and Williams, called “Gettin’ Outta Here,” is a great duet for the two brothers and the song also helps to define these characters.

But the whole cast gets good material.  Playing Uncle Charles, Ryan Duncan is a standout and he really scores with the second act opener, “Livin’ It Up.” Other performers in the show who get their own moments to shine include Kennedy Caughell, Sophia Clarke, and Terra MacLeod, who all play friends of Maggie.  In addition, Matt Faucher gets the part of a kind of rabble rouser, named Tam, and he is extremely good leading the protest song “Promised Land.”  In small roles, Sonya Venugopal and Brian Michael Hoffman are also very effective.

Still, the star of the show is Maggie and she gets the best songs in the show.  From the searing act one closer, “My Confession,” to an all-out show stopper called “Used to Be Fire,” Dwyer is a powerhouse throughout and her acting of the scenes is also sensational.  The score for “Maggie” is really one of the best to be heard in years, and there is also a delightful song for Maggie and her girlfriends, called “Queen For a Day,” which is closely followed by a moving number for Jimmy, called “All Because of You.”  This is truly the kind of score that one wants to hear a second time.

In addition to working wonders with her cast, the director also does fantastically with her designers.  The costume design by Emily Rebholz is just about perfect and there is atmospheric lighting design by Japhy Weideman.  The excellent orchestra is led by the ideal music director Adam Souza and Jay Hilton’s crystal clear sound design enhances the whole show. Also, the choreography by EJ Boyle works especially well with the overall direction of the show.

Even with all these virtues, more could be done to flesh out the first half of the show.  Indeed, with a running time of two hours and ten minutes, including an intermission, “Maggie” could stand to have a few more scenes added to make the whole musical better.  Even in its present state, though, “Maggie” at Goodspeed Musicals is definitely a musical that can be highly recommended and here’s hoping that the show will eventually move on to New York after this current production.

“Maggie” runs through October 20, 2024 at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, CT. For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.goodspeed.org. 

Photo: (L-R): Sam Primack, Jeffrey Kringer, Christine Dwyer, and Wes Williams

Photo by Diane Sobolewski