'The Lost Boys' Works Better When the Bloodsucking Stops

Halfway through The Lost Boys, I would’ve called it one of the worst shows I’d ever seen. Luckily, Act Two brings a massive jump in quality.

The musical (based on the 1987 film) follows the Emerson family as they move to California for a fresh start. Son Michael meets a local rock band (the titular Lost Boys) and joins the crew, only to learn they’re vampires.

This setup sounds absurd, and it plays that way for the first act. It’s as if the creators flip a switch at intermission, however. A decent show sits beneath all the preamble, which makes you wonder what took so long.

The production is technically impressive from the jump. Director Michael Arden makes the most of the cavernous Palace Theatre stage. The show’s two well-deserved design Tonys (Dane Laffrey for scenery, Arden and Jen Schreiver for lighting) highlight the mountain the team had to climb.

These eye-popping elements also hide some deficiencies in the show’s book (Chris Hoch and David Hornsby) and score (The Rescues), though again things improve for the payoff.

The performers give it their all to rise above the din. Tony Award winners Shoshana Bean (as Michael’s mom) and Ali Louis Bourzgui (as the lead vampire) do quality work. The real MVP, however, is Maria Wirries as Star, the only vampire with a conscience.

I’ve rarely seen a show start shaky and then deliver a quality resolution like The Lost Boys does. I can’t quite recommend it, but it still gets points for sticking the landing.