Performers are energetic and entertaining, though the song variety fell flat
Photo via Pheonix Theatre.
100 Years of Broadway is exactly what it says on the tin: a medley of songs from the past century’s Broadway shows. From A Chorus Line to Hamilton, the Phoenix takes the audience on an exploration of Broadway’s evolution.
The first act consists of short sections that delve into specific eras of Broadway’s history. There’s the Early Years of Tin Pan Alley, a collection of early Rodgers and Hammerstein, the golden years, and so on. In between these sections are brief explanations of the era the audience is about to see. The second act includes full songs from contemporary Broadway such as Wicked, Waitress, and Shrek the Musical.
Despite the Phoenix not having a musical theatre focus, the show holds up remarkably well. The actors keep the energy up for the whole two-hour production while singing and dancing. The first act is especially physically demanding, and other than losing a couple voices in the chorus, the actors do a good job to keep the energy consistent and entertaining.
While the choreography of the show isn’t too technical, the cast brings out the character of each song, no matter how short. Everyone gets a moment to shine in the starring role, and the actors switch seamlessly from star to chorus member. For a medley of songs without any real connecting tissue, the actors do a fantastic job making sure the audience is following along.
However, 100 Years of Broadway’s biggest weakness is the choice of songs as they unfortunately sound very similar, especially in the early years of Broadway. Unless you’re a die-hard Broadway fan, it’s difficult to tell when a song ends and a new one begins. While the show includes love ballads, opening numbers, and character ballads, they all have a similar upbeat tone. The only song that stands out is “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” which has a much darker tone than everything else in the show. This lack of variety also makes some sections in the first act feel like they go on for a song too long.
The other big downside of 100 Years of Broadway is that the actors don’t really get a chance to act, as the structure of the first act doesn’t allow for many dramatic beats besides what a single song provides. And then it’s onto the next song. While the second act allows the actors to better explore their characters through full songs, they are still limited. It’s still only one song, and songs that don’t vary too much from each other.
Overall, I’m glad I saw 100 Years of Broadway. It was a fun chance to immerse myself in the history of Broadway through a medley of songs. But I’m probably not going to see it a second time.
100 Years of Broadway is playing at the Phoenix Theatre until Feb. 24. Tickets can be purchased at the Phoenix Theatre’s website.
