Lauren-Nicole Gabel, Rob Milanic, Chrissy Barnett Miller, Ryan Walker, Jessica Cooperstock, Rinaldo Martinez, and Megan Hastie. Photo courtesy of Arts Barn/Theatre@CBT.
It’s a show about love, sex, tragedy, and AIDS—and it came before “Rent.” “Falsettos” tells the story of Marvin (Rinaldo Martinez) and his family: ex-wife Trina (Lauren-Nicole Gabel), son Jason (Megan Hastie), lover Whizzer (Ryan Walker), and therapist Mendel (Rob Milanic), as well as Dr. Charlotte (Chrissy Barnett Miller) and Cordelia (Jessica Cooperstock), the lesbians next door. “Falsettos” is a tale of divorce, baseball, and relationships, all occurring while Marvin, Trina, and Mendel try to plan Jason’s bar mitzvah.
Martinez, Miller, and Cooperstock demonstrate true zeal and passion for their characters and the show, while proving themselves to be apt performers and skilled vocalists.
“Falsettos,” now at the Arts Barn in partnership with Theatre@CBT, is certainly anchored by Martinez. Martinez’s smooth, expressive voice gives Marvin a realistic quality that makes his stage presence magnetic and his emotion infectious. His emotional responses to the unrelenting tragedy in this story are unabashedly human, whether he is justified in his reactions or not. Marvin is not easy to love, and Martinez certainly knows that. He plays a real, genuinely flawed man rather than trying to convince the audience of any virtue.
Some other acting choices are not quite as close to the depth shown by Martinez. Walker, Gabel, and Milanic, in particular, fall prey to stereotypically exaggerated movements that can pull you out of the reality of the moment. “Falsettos” is not an easy show with its upsetting, emotional content, sung-through nature, and difficult vocal demands. While the level of performance and intimacy required for this show was uneven, it will hopefully grow as the cast settles into the run. However, the production does not shy away from intimacy in the relationships, especially in its LGBTQ+ romances, which is incredibly refreshing.
As the schticky yet charming lesbians next door, Miller and Cooperstock give the production a boost in the second act. Their stellar voices help anchor ensemble songs, although Walker and Milanic’s powerful tenors tend to really shine in their solos. Walker finds his stride in Whizzer’s first act ballad “The Games I Play,” and the difficult harmonies in group songs are at their best when handled by Walker with Martinez. Miller displays a haunting dread that contrasts perfectly with Cooperstock’s unrelenting optimism throughout their short character arcs. Their clear understanding of the material and their characters as human beings make their interactions feel real and grounded.
Many of the staging choices in this production of “Falsettos” very much echo those of the recent 2016 revival that has launched a newfound interest in the musical that originally premiered in 1992. The simple, customizable set provided an unobtrusive background to such a quick-paced and complicated show, allowing the text itself to take the front seat. At times, the direction added to the complication— actors rearranging set pieces sometimes took downstage center to do so while other characters were singing behind them, leading to bits of chaos. Costumes by Lauren Fielding and her team were simple yet impactful, allowing the audience to better understand the implied environment as well as the character’s personalities through the colors and styles they were wearing.
While this production of “Falsettos” has some challenges finding its footing, it is certainly surrounded with much excitement. Martinez, Miller, and Cooperstock demonstrate true zeal and passion for their characters and the show, while proving themselves to be apt performers and skilled vocalists.
Running Time: One hour and 45 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
Advisory: Contains adult language, suggestive content, homophobic slurs, and a depiction of domestic violence. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
“Falsettos” runs through August 18, 2024 at the Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. For more information and to purchase tickets, go online.
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