FORT WORTH — Casa Mañana’s world premiere of Bad Boys of Broadway in Concert sports glorious Broadway numbers sung by performers that take your breath away.
But the title? Couldn’t be catchier, but between the love songs and friendly banter, Broadway veterans John Cudia, Jason Wooten and Josh Tower seem like the nicest guys around.
They enter, rakishly enough, moving in suggestive step, wearing shades and hats pulled down to half cover their eyes. But the gig is up by the fourth song when Cudia, who has starred as both Broadway’s Jean Valjean and Phantom, pours his heart and brilliant, tear-stirring clarity into “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.
Is there anyone besides Inspector Javert who thinks this fellow who pleads to sacrifice his life to save the young man his daughter loves is a “bad boy”?
Actually the baddest is the girl, West End star (and University of North Texas alum) Carmen Cusack, who shows up almost halfway through to berate the guys with a dazzling “Diva’s Lament (Whatever Happened to my Part)” from Spamalot. She brings sass and a slithering feathery boa right into the audience, sashaying from lap to lap crooning “Whatever Lola Wants” from Damn Yankees. Cusack’s electrifying “Defying Gravity” from Wicked is another must-see performance.
Casa Mañana has high hopes for the national touring potential of this show, co-conceived, directed and choreographed by Tim Bennett. The production values, particularly the 16-piece orchestra under the musical direction of W. Brent Sawyer, are terrific.
The title and theme, however, need tinkering. It’s a great instinct to showcase Broadway guys. There’s a clever sequence of “devil” songs, with Wooten tearing up “The Devil You Know” from Side Show and Tower rumbling “Dance with the Devil” from The Witches of Eastwick. Cudia’s mesmerizing “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera seems to fit the theme, but his rendition shimmers with such eloquent vulnerability you want to scold Christine for keeping the poor guy waiting.
Then it seesaws to romantic with Tower’s evocative “In Lily’s Eyes,” a poignant song about lost love from The Secret Garden.
Even an 83-minute intermissionless concert needs a coherent through line, something that completely unravels when the “Bad Boys” tackle women’s songs in a medley that should amuse Uptown Players fans anticipating Broadway Our Way (opening Jan. 17), where men have been doing that for years.
The medley is exquisitely sung, but are these songs “Bad Boys” would pick: “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story? “I Enjoy Being a Girl” from Flower Drum Song? “You Gotta Have a Gimmick” from Gypsy?
There are too many gems you shouldn’t miss in Sunday’s final performance. But you gotta have a gimmick, and Casa needs to brainstorm a better one for a tour.
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