Boop! The Musical brings Max Fleischer’s iconic flapper, Betty Boop, to life through one spectacular number after another.
The musical is based on Bob Martin’s book. It features music by the 16-time Grammy Award winner, David Foster. This is his first Broadway show. Susan Birkenhead’s poetic lyrics fit seamlessly into the music and action. The Tony Award-winning director, Jerry Mitchel, moves the audience between two worlds – Betty Boop’s world and New York City of 2025. Light and color differentiate the two worlds.
The opening scene is set in Betty Boop Land. The world is black and white. The opening scene, choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, uses the dancers and a bare black-and-white set brilliantly to set up the premise of Betty Boop’s land. The actors, especially Grampy, cleverly portrayed by Stephen DeRosa, are total hams. Even the voices differ from those. Oscar directed the Betty Boop cartoons. He is portrayed by Aubie Merrylee. His voice is closer to a crooner than the singers in New York.
Betty Boop travels to New York City, landing in the middle of Comic Con. The set design, created by David Rockwell, seamlessly moves the audience from a black-and-white world to a vibrantly colorful world. When the two worlds meet there is a dance where the costumes and lights switch back and forth from black and white to color. This highlights the motif of the power of imagination that goes through the musical. To reinforce this tribute to the Wizard of Oz, Betty Boop is wearing ruby shoes in the closing.
I am thrilled to join others in greeting Jasimine Amy Rogers as she makes her Broadway debut as Betty Boop. She is multi-talented– she can sing, dance, tap, and act superbly. Betty Boop is a prime example of the flappers. Flappers were liberated, turning their backs on the traditional Victorian role of women. They were early feminists – embracing a liberated lifestyle. Jasimine Amy Rogers plays Betty Boop in both regions as a feminist. Betty seeks to find her identity. She urges the women in New York to develop themselves. Betty Boop is a consistent feminist even when the two worlds merge.
Trisha is the best type of a New Yorker teenager – bright, talented, sassy, streetwise – and fumbling to find her identity. She meets Betty at Comic Con. She idolizes Betty Boop and promptly brings her home. Betty Boop encourages Trisha to have faith in herself. The feminist strike Trisha is played by Anglica Davis, America’s Got Talent runner-up. Ms. Davis makes the role her own. Her singing voice is amazing. This is her Broadway debut. She knocks it out of the park.
Raymond Demarest is the mayoral candidate; a chauvinist who co-opts Betty’s fame for his campaign. Erich Bergen’s acting and singing brings this slimy politician to life. A transition occurs to Betty’s area when he pursues her around the desk. Betty explains that if someone chases her around a desk, they get hit with a lamp – a simple cause-and-reaction in her world.
Aunt Carol is Raymond Demarest’s political advisor. Anastacia McCleskey makes the character her own. She vividly portrays a harassed advisor representing a candidate whom she doubts. It is Betty Boop who finally convinces her to run for mayor. A combination of flapper liberation and ttwenty-first-centurysensibility.
Ainsely Anthony Melham plays Dwayne, the romantic interest. He is a triple threat – he dances, taps, and becomes believable. He has an extraordinary emotional range. It becomes easy to see why romance develops between Betty and him.
This musical has not one but two love stories. There is the standard one between Betty and Dwayne. There is also a romance between Grampy and Valentina. Grampy had met Valentina in the real world forty years ago. They separated when Grampy returned to Betty’s land. Valentina has aged so that she is now a peer of Grampy. Faith Prince skillfully portrays a woman who became an astrophysicist while still cherishing her feelings for Grampy. Their romance shows that Betty and Dwayne’s romance can last.
The surprise star of Boop! Is Pudgy the dog? There are times that he steals the scenes. In fact, at one time ,Pudgy got a standing ovation. Philip Huber makes Pudgy come alive.
Boop! The Musical appeals to children of all ages. The messages of feminism and self-expression do not detract from the fun. Children will enjoy the show. We have a superb cast in a brilliant musical. It is a clever musical that uplifts the audience. As I was leaving, I heard a patron summarize the show perfectly. She said that it was “a shot of joy.”
