“Just In Time” takes us back to the 50s and 60s of the last century
The name of this new show may be a bit confusing to many people, so let’s dispel any false impression one might have. It is a glorious tribute to Bobby Darin, a major crooner of the 1950-1960 era, best remembered for his innovative treatment of such songs as “Splish, Splash”, “Beyond the Sea”, “Dream Lover”, “Lazy River” and “Mack the Knife” among many others, which all became hits and defined his individual approach to singing. Born in New York in 1936, he came to the music scene in the late 1950s, before appearing in several films during the 1960s, most notably in “Captain Newman M.D.,” for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He died in 1973, at the age of 37, and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
The show, based on an initial concept by Ted Chapin, with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, made its debut in 2016 under the title “Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical”. Its presentation on Broadway, at the Circle in the Square, makes it one of the most entertaining jukebox musicals seen lately.
As spectators filter in, they find themselves in the middle of a Las Vegas-styled setting, designed by Derek McLane, brilliantly illuminated, with the orchestra on both sides of the multi-level stage. The star of the show, Jonathan Groff, last seen in the revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along”, comes accompanied by three “Sirens” (Valeria Yamin, Christine Cornish and Julia Grondin), lovely dancers and singers, among several other fill-in roles.
As an intro, Groff welcomes the audience as himself, before morphing into Bobby Darin. Throughout the evening, he then narrates point by point, in vignettes that are intelligently detailed, the life story of the singer, his adolescent years with his “mother” Polly (Michele Pawk), and his “sister” Nina (Emily Bergl), his beginnings as a performer and his eventual rise to success, his encounter with the singer Connie Francis (Gracie Lawrence), and his marriage with the actress Sandra Dee (Erika Henningsen), the whole narration smartly documented with many of the songs that made him famous.
The story also focuses on the highs and lows in Darin’s existence, cut short by a weak heart condition that made him more vulnerable than most. Among other problems that affected him was his relationship with his family and the women with whom he fell in love. He was 31 when he found out that Polly was in fact his grandmother and Nina his mother, something that had a serious effect on him.
As these details in his life are brought to the fore, the action takes place on stage and inside the room, making the audience closely part of what is going on. It is a clever way of involving the spectators and keeping them fascinated.
The entire production glistens throughout the evening with Jonathan Groff splendid as the main character and evidently up to the task of bringing back to life the many tunes Darrin sang during his life, a splendid opportunity to return to a style of pop jazz music that is seldom heard nowadays, with the orchestra, conducted by Andrew Resnick, providing an appropriate backup accompaniment.
The choreography by Shannon Lewis is for the most part delirious, with the “Sirens” and other members of the cast given many occasions to manifest their own talents in several musical numbers. Alex Timbers’ direction keeps things going at an exciting pace. A wonderful throwback to another era, “Just in Time” is a winning production bound to attract many for some time to come.
Music Supervision: Andrew Resnick • Music Direction: Andrew Resnick • Choreography: Shannon Lewis • Scenic Design: Derek McLane • Costume Design: Catherine Zuber • Lighting Design: Justin Townsend • Sound Design: Peter Hylenski • With: Jonathan Groff (Bobby Darin), Joe Barbara (Charlie Maffia and others), Emily Bergl (Nina/Mary), Erika Henningsen (Sandra Dee), Gracie Lawrence (Connie Francis), Michele Pawk (Polly), Lance Roberts (Ahmet Ertegun and others), Caesar Samayoa (Don Kirshner and others), Christine Cornish (Siren), Julia Grondin (Siren), Valeria Yamin (Siren) and others
Cover photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman