What I liked
What immediately comes to mind as what I liked is the performances from every actor in the show. The entire production is perfectly cast, with Lambert and Ley providing not only believable performances as Andy and Sid respectively, but also a believable love story fo two kids who’ve grown up together. LeClair as Kate Davis Jiminez as Molly both did great as comic relief characters, for different reasons, but equal acting ability, and together the two of them alongside the leads made for a charming, entertaining little family. Finally, Shaked and Park both delivered in their side character roles: Shaked as judgmental Greg somehow made you want to agree with him and smack him upside the head (just let the two boys be happy, dammit!), and Park as Casey was a perfect way to wrap up the show.
Aside from the acting (which I clearly enjoyed), the writing was heartfelt, fun, and funny where it needed to be. The dialogue and relationships between each character felt real and compelling, and there wasn’t a point in the story where I questioned why any two characters might be talking to each other the way they do.
What I didn't like
What I had initially been concerned about following the first twenty minutes of the play was the pacing in the very beginning. The audience is given extremely short glimpses into the childhood lives of Andy and Sid before we reach their teens and adulthood, and these very brief moments before getting into the meat can feel a bit jarring at first. Overall, though, I’m not entirely sure that we NEED to see a bunch of childhood exposition, either; the story isn’t about Andy and Sid’s childhood, it’s about what follows and how that childhood affected them. I can’t say there’s an easy fix to that immediate beginning pacing, or even that it necessarily needs to be fixed, but going into the show I would prepare for that!
My overall impression
Sweet, funny, and absolutely delightful. Under the Table and Dreaming is an extremely entertaining story that has you both feeling for the characters, and laughing alongside them. With wonderful writing (from both the original fanfiction and Le’s adaptation), and perfect cast, and a plot that’s both simple and compelling, this show was destined to be a hit from its very conception. I can’t recommend this show enough. Particularly if you’re part of the LGBTQ community, and have always yearned to see representation from the characters you love, I can’t recommend this show enough.
