Frequent Village Green contributor and editor of our weekly Weekender column Georgette Gilmore recently reviewed “A Bronx Tale: A Musical” for the blog Playground. Read an excerpt of Gilmore’s review below.
Paper Mill Playhouse’s world premiere of A Bronx Tale: A Musical, based on Chazz Palminteri’s 1993 film opened last night and, in the words of Sonny, “This one could be one of the greats.”
A Bronx Tale is the coming of age story of an Italian-American kid (Calogero) from the Bronx (Belmont Ave to be exact) trying to find his path in life, choosing between his working class bus driver father (Lorenzo) and a mob-boss father-figure (Sonny) who takes him under his wing. From them both he learns that the “saddest thing in life is wasted talent, and the choices that you make will shape your life forever.”
Coco Jones (Jane) and Jason Gotay (Calogero) (Photo by Jerry Dalia)
I had the pleasure of seeing A Bronx Tale the Musical last night at the official press opening (a perfect Valentine’s Day date night with my husband Greg). In all honestly, as much as I love the movie A Bronx Tale, I had some reservations on a musical adaptation. But when a show is co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks and has music by the great Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater — you know it’s going to be very good.
Nick Cordero (Sonny) and Joshua Colley (Young Calogero), center, and the men of A Bronx Tale: The Musical. (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
A Bronx Tale is very good. It has an incredible cast. Stand outs are Joshua Colley as the young Calogero who charmed the audience with his short time on stage and his “They Call Me C” number; Jason Gotay is perfect as the older Calogero who also narrates throughout, and Nick Cordero as Sonny was outstanding.
To read Gilmore’s full review, click here.
A Bronx Tale the Musical runs now through March 6, 2016. Tickets are $37 – $124. Get your tickets fast, because the show is close to sold out. Note: Due to language (lots of F-bombs) and a few racial slurs, Playground recommends the show as appropriate for teens and up.
Paper Mill Playhouse
22 Brookside Drive
Millburn, NJ 07041
Parking available at the theater ($9)
