What I liked
Masterful singing, impeccable research, expertly produced (with a special shout-out for the costume!), remarkable poise dealing with the inevitable Fringe tech issues
What I didn't like
I liked when the protagonist made references to modern music as a joke. There were a few moments when the performer’s hand gestures accompanying the joke were a little too modern in nature to match the character’s time period. However, it also reminded me of fashion history YouTuber Karolina Zebrowska’s hilarious “Thug Edwardian Lady” video, so there may be a case for leaving it in if it was not deliberate (I suspect it might have been in response to stress from the tech issues).
My overall impression
Fantastic! Shelley Cooper brings a pivotal moment in history to life for a modern audience. Her Jenny Lind is an adorable and conscientious mid-nineteenth century Swedish superstar struggling to use her celebrity responsibly in an America divided over racism and slavery. Cooper’s singing is superb, making it easy for audiences to imagine Lind’s star quality while also contrasting with her pious personality. And yes, we get the “girlboss” moments promised in the summary when Lind goes head to head with PT Barnum. See this show to meet the performing arts role model you should have learned about in school!
