To See or Not to See: Bandstand

Bandstand is a terrific throwback to the big music, big dance numbers, and heartstring-tugging storylines of classic musicals.

It’s 1945 in Cleveland, Ohio, and young men are coming home from World War II. Donny Novitski (Corey Cott) is one of those young men. Before the war, he was a talented young pianist; he played clubs all over the city. In an attempt to forget the horrific memories of war and get back to doing something he loves, he throws himself into trying to play music again.

When he hears about an NBC Tribute to the Troops! radio contest for an original song that will be used in a Hollywood film, Donny gathers together a group of young musical war veterans—Jimmy Campbell (James Nathan Hopkins), Davy Zlatic (Brandom J. Ellis), Nick Radel (Alex Bender), Wayne Wright (Geoff Packard), and Johnny Simpson (Joe Carroll)—to form a band. Also joining them as their vocalist is Julia Trojan (Laura Osnes), the wife of Donny’s best friend from the army who never made it back home. She, conveniently, also writes poetry that they are able to use as song lyrics. Together, they all play music to escape the horrors of their war memories and its lingering effects; they find happiness in music.

While there were those lovely musical moments, the show did start feeling a bit lengthy with all the club performances. How many upbeat swing numbers can you sit through (even when the choreography is finessed and dynamic)? While the juxtaposition of exuberant swing with amazing gut-wrenching somber tunes kept Bandstand fluid, it also just had me yearning for a more meaty story about the unexplored vets in the band.

Despite that, the performances were top notch. Between the emotions everyone put into their parts and the fact that the band members all played their own instruments, Bandstand has an impressive ensemble of actors and dancers. Cott was able to bring a likability to the cockiness of Donny; Osnes brought a complex female war widow to life; Joe Carroll as Johnny, recovering from a head injury and popping pills, and Geoff Packard as Wayne, suffering from OCD and getting used to his family again, were particularly moving as two of the vet band members struggling to move on.

Indeed, the most interesting part of Bandstand is the story of the band members dealing with their PTSD. A particularly moving moment is during the song, “Right This Way,” when the choreography shines (choreography and direction by Andy Blankenbuehler, famed Hamilton choreographer) as the band members are carrying their fallen comrades. Another fantastic moment (and song) is “Welcome Home.” It builds from a gentle, quiet song when Cott introduces the tune to a stirring, emotional firecracker when the entire band performs it with Osnes. Indeed, it received a standing ovation in the middle of the production.

While the show could have used more exploration of the vets, Bandstand  was still a well-done show that is well-worth seeing.

 

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Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel