Fun Home

Photos by Jenny Anderson

by David Schultz
Standing out on its own unique oasis, this mesmerizing chamber musical strikes many
emotional chords. No need to have lived this womans rather unusual life or suffered the
extreme heartbreak she encountered to connect with it. This is first and foremost a memory
play about family and the complex inner dynamic that each family brings in its own
idiosyncratic way. Adapted from lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdels graphic memoir, this
dense emotionally satisfying musical is blessed with a subtle musical score by Jeanine
Tesori. Playwright Lisa Kron has seamlessly crafted the book and lyrics, and director Sam
Gold dazzles with some of his finest work to date. Ms. Kron has cunningly split the lead
character into three separate stages of life to show the transformation in various
timeframes.

Sydney Lucas as Small Alison, Beth Malone as Alison & Emily Skeggs as Medium Alison in Fun Home

The youngest named Small Alison (Sydney Lucas) is innocent, and tomboyish yet curious
about her innermost roiling of feelings she cannot find words to express...just yet. The
middle incarnation (Emily Skeggs) is now a geeky college student, much more internally
aware of her sexual tendencies, but still ambiguous and tentative about how to open up and
express herself to her college mates and family. That leaves the last Alison (Beth Malone),
all grown up and butch, a celebrated and published cartoonist to round out the pack. This
adult Alison leads us on this interior journey, as she watches and observes her younger
selves in their various stages of life, including her two younger brothers John and Christian
(Zell Steele Morrow, Oscar Williams).

Michael Cerveris as Bruce Bechdel in Fun Home

The musical takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania where the family seems to be a
well-rounded bunch. Father Bruce (Michael Cerveris) work and hobbies are spilt three ways
too. He is an English teacher at the local high school, runs a funeral home to pay the bills,
and restores old homes in the area for pleasure.

Judy Kuhn as Helen and Sydney Lucas as Alison

His wife Helen (Judy Kuhn) seems emotionally distant with pent-up anger; the answers to
her grief become minutely clear as the musical progresses. Helen has known for years that
her husband secretly pines for the young men in the area, as he has furtive dalliances with
them and is on the down low. Actor Joel Perez portrays all the various men that Bruce flirts
with. If all this sounds a bit sordid, it is not by a long shot. The expressive, propulsive score
drives this piece into a higher plane.
The drawing desk that Alison returns to time and again serve as the cartoonists memoryboard as she draws out her repressed memories of her family life, both real, half forgotten,
and wistfully what she imagines what a perfect family it might have been. but never was.
The stage design is perfectly rendered by David Zinn who does double duty as costume
designer as well. The small intimate horseshoe stage limits the size and scope of set design
since too much furniture and accoutrement would block the viewing angles. Mr Zinn
brilliantly finds a way to reveal and conceal. The minimalist stage pops open at various
times, trap doors are slid open and all manner of furniture, caskets, college dorm rooms,
sitting rooms pop up into and out of view. The atmospheric lighting is both bright and then
darkened to eerie effect when appropriate.
The melding of dialogue and musical segues are especially adroit. Each musical number
moves and propels each character into ever more complex emotional revelations. There is
not much in the way of actual dance to contemplate. Director Gold does have a bit of fun in
one early flashback with all the young kids stowed away in a casket; then bursting from it
and singing, pretending they are making a commercial for the Bechdel funeral home in song
and dance. In another a fantasy sequence transforms the brood into a Partridge Family style

T.V. show revealing a musical number extolling the sweet and harmonious loving family that
Alison knows will never happen. Flashbacks, forward and backward continue as the
darkness descends and Alison tries in vain to connect with her father in an emotionally
gripping moment near the end of the piece as they ride together in a car along a lonesome
stretch of road. The ache to connect on both of them is palatable. But they cannot reach
that emotional safe space. The musical reaches a pitch-black moment with an epiphany
sung with gut wrenching foreboding by Mr. Cerveris.
Every actor is in tune with all the idiosyncratic tics and emotive undercurrents of feeling of
their character. The cast has been with this work since its debut at the Public downtown,
growing along with it, and new nuances are brought to the surface in this incarnation. Far
from a downer, this invigorating fresh look at family, history, memories; both real and
wished for, proves to be an adult musical in every sense of the word.
Circle in the Square Theater, 235 West 50th street.
212-239-6200
funhomebroadway.com
Open Run
Running Time 1 hour 40 min, no intermission.