Schmigadoon, Where Being Old Fashioned Isn't a Bad Thing

Isabelle McCalla and the company of Schmigadoon. Photo: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the musical theatre world must be very flattered by Schmigadoon. This loving parody of Golden Age Broadway (which recently got 12 Tony nominations) will entertain both fans of the Apple TV series and new audiences.

As in many shows of this type, the plot is simple: Bickering couple Josh and Melissa (Alex Brightman and Tony nominee Sara Chase) get trapped in the title town, where the residents frequently break into song. She loves musicals, he hates them, and they can’t leave until they find true love.

That’s the setup for a clever Cinco Paul score that borrows from Carousel, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music. The last parody is especially funny; you’ll never hear “Do Re Mi” the same way again.

Director and choreographer Christopher Gattelli marshals a great ensemble of high-kicking dancers on the Nederlander Theatre stage. Most impressively, he utilizes performers of all body types so that even a musical fantasy looks like the real world.

Brightman and Chase are charming leads, while Isabelle McCalla and Max Clayton excel as two of their many love interests.

It doesn’t break any new ground and isn’t as original as Two Strangers, but Schmigadoon proves there’s still value to old-fashioned musical comedy.

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