Mr. Saturday Night is the story of Buddy Young Jr., an outrageous and outspoken comedian who found fame, if not fortune, in the early days of television. Now, some 40 years after his TV career flamed out, Buddy seeks one more shot at the spotlight, and while he's at it, one last shot at fixing the family he fractured along the way.
As it turned out, Mr. Saturday Night was perfect to watch on a Sunday afternoon. It's billed as a musical comedy, but really it feels like an amiable comedy with some songs scattered on it, like icing sugar on a light sponge. Its star Billy Crystal wrote the book with Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel; the music is by Jason Robert Brown, and lyrics by Amanda Green. The show is a ranging 2 hours and 40 minutes (opening Wednesday night at the Nederlander Theatre, booking to Sept. 4), but in the spirit of many good things on stage, it does not dawdle under John Rando's easy-as-it-goes direction, instead ambling pleasantly and un-challengingly along at its own pace.
The cast does its damndest. Paymer and Crystal exude palpable brotherly warmth. Graff is the show's most valuable player, her comedic delivery almost upstaging Crystal. Bean sings the bejeezus out of her ballads. The cast members who cover multiple roles - Jordan Gelber, Brian Gonzales and Mylinda Hull - craft incredibly quick, precise sketches of their characters, ranging from Gelber's hulking Rod Steiger impression and slow-shuffling elderly actor to Gonzales' 10-year-old child. Harmon, meanwhile, is a bubbly pleasure, although underused. Scott Pask's scenic design mixes physical sets with helpful projections (the Borscht Belt map illustrations are colourful and zany). Paul Tazewell and Sky Switser's costume designs are accurate and fun, with over-the-top 1950s TV show costumes including a dancing hotdog and pack of cigarettes, and spot-on 1990s-era baby-doll dresses for Susan.
2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Amanda Green |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Amanda Green |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Contribution to the Theater Award | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Shoshana Bean |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | Mr. Saturday Night |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Lowell Ganz |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Babaloo Mandel |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Shoshana Bean |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Mr. Saturday Night |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Video/Projection Design (Play or Musical) | Jeff Sugg |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Mr. Saturday Night |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Jason Robert Brown |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Jason Robert Brown |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Billy Crystal |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Shoshana Bean |
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