SALT LAKE CITY — I know there are theater patrons and even critics who immediately dismiss a new production when it is based on a favorite feature film. However, I always try to give whatever I’m seeing the benefit of the doubt hoping to be surprised and entertained. Unfortunately, the Broadway touring production of Mrs Doubtfire: the Musical at Eccles Theater is about as bland, forgettable and annoying as a screen-to-stage adaptation gets, not leaving much to recommend about it.
Like most musicals based on movies, a patron’s enjoyment of Mrs Doubtfire probably depends somewhat on your love of the 1993 film. For the most part, it sticks pretty close to the narrative of the film, including iconic scenes like Mrs. Doubtfire dancing with a broom to a rock song and trying to be at two different tables at a restaurant simultaneously towards the end. The major difference the creative team (featuring Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick for music and lyrics and Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell for book) cooked up is to move the story to modern times and make Miranda a fashion designer instead of a interior designer (so they can have a fashion show starring Mrs. Doubtfire, which is supposed to be funny…) Everything else is basically the same as the film.
One of the adaptation’s key failures is that there is not a memorable song in the batch and most of the numbers do little to add to character development or make us laugh, so we’re left feeling bored and frustrated. For example, multiple numbers are given to Mr. Jolly and the TV studio, which is an after-thought in the film. The kids are given almost nothing to do but be frustrated and annoyed and Miranda has only one song that adds to her character with “Let Go.” The musical’s attempt to recreate the “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” moment from the movie with “I’m Rockin Now” also feels thoroughly lame and undercooked.
Photo: Joan Marcus. Show closes September 15.
The most impressive part of the production, which was directed by Jerry Zaks, was the hair, makeup and costuming transitions as Daniel flipped to Mrs. Doubtfire rapidly and easily, sometimes multiple times in a scene or musical number—including the aforementioned restaurant scene. Hair and wig designer David Brian Brown and costume designer Catherine Zuber put forth incredible work and it’s hard to believe they weren’t nominated for Tony Awards in those categories. At one point, I spied that Daniel’s suit and pants were a one piece he could zipper up and put on with ease, but to the naked eye it looked like multiple clothing pieces. It was very impressive.
The other standout of Mrs Doubtfire was Aaron Kaburick as Daniel’s brother Frank Hillard. He was the funniest part of the show, and I loved his recurring bit where any time he lies he gets louder and louder. I wish the entire musical had been about his character and his husband Andre played by Nik Alexander. They are more interesting than everything else going on and certainly more funny.
As for the rest of the production, the sets, props, lighting were all perfectly acceptable re-creations of the movie with modern additions like iPads and cell phones added to the plot for some reason.
Rob McClure, who played Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire on Broadway, was fine for most part, but the character can be quite grating and the script doesn’t give his characters enough time to listen to Miranda and the kids like the movie does; he only cares about himself and how not seeing his children hurts him, where the film version of the character seems more magnanimous and caring.
Photo: Joan Marcus
Some kind of issue occurred in the second act that caused McClure to lose his voice, and he literally croaked the last 2 songs. I have never heard a professional actor sing like that; it was obvious there was some kind of physical problem with him because he didn’t sound that way for the rest of the performance. He must have pulled a vocal chord or something.
Another weird thing about Mrs Doubtfire is how the catchy, “Gaston”-like song “Big Fat No” attempts to villainize the romantic rival Stuart, but the lyrics don’t match the song’s intent. He’s no Gaston. He actually loves her and wants to make her happy. He’s far less self-interested than Daniel, but I’m not sure the musical realizes this. I sat there thinking “I’m supposed to dislike this person? Why? Because he works out a lot?”
If Mrs Doubtfire is someone’s favorite movie, then perhaps there is enjoyment to be had from seeing favorite scenes duplicated on stage, but there isn’t much else to be gained from this national tour production. It’s a musical perhaps best left in the 90s.
These reviews are made possible by a grant from the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks program.
