REVIEW: ‘Floyd Collins’ couldn’t be more poignant
Image courtesy of LCT / Provided with permission.
NEW YORK — Lincoln Center Theater’s Floyd Collins, the musical revival that finishes up its run Sunday, June 22, is a poignant, breathtakingly beautiful show about a. young man trapped in a cave and the community members above him that try their hardest to find him a means of escape. The material, based on a true story, doesn’t exactly scream the musical treatment, but Tina Landau (book, additional lyrics and direction) and Adam Guettel (music and lyrics) prove any naysayers wrong.
The show is anchored by a tremendous, Tony-nominated performance by Jeremy Jordan in the title role. The musical opens with Floyd running around the vast stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre; it’s 1925, and he’s in his element, exploring a cave system and never thinking too much about his personal safety. His youthful, unbridled energy bounds around this corner of Kentucky. Although the scenic design is simple, it’s expertly rendered by the creative team members. Kudos to dots, the multidisciplinary design collective, that created the world of Floyd Collins with ropes, planks of wood and effective accoutrement. The set is aided by the perfect lighting choices of Scott Zielinski.
Eventually Floyd faces catastrophe. He falls into a part of the cave that pins him down and injures his leg. When he doesn’t return home, a search party is formed, and the bulk of the musical focuses on this dichotomy: Floyd lying down in the cave awaiting help, and the feverish actions of his family and friends aboveground trying to figure out how to find the young man.
The supporting cast members are expert in their line deliveries and help this Kentucky community feel like a real family on stage. Amongst the players are Jason Gotay as Homer Collins, Floyd’s brother; Sean Allan Krill as H.T. Carmichael; the always dependable Marc Kudisch as Lee Collins, Floyd’s father; Lizzy McAlpine as Nellie Collins; Wade McCollum as Bee Doyle; Jessica Molaskey as Miss Jane; Tony nominee Taylor Trensch as journalist Skeets Miller; Cole Vaughan as Jewell Estes; and Clyde Voce as Ed Bishop.
The music in the show has a folksy twang and feels like a cross between Americana and Broadway fare. Jordan, who has one of the best stage voices of his generation, brings these numbers to life in a way that feels immediate and commanding of one’s attention. The sonic feat is all the more impressive because of his character’s predicament in the show. He remains stationary for much of the narrative and must display signs of pain, suffering and immobility while he’s trying to keep his spirits up. The community’s musical numbers aboveground are a little more energized and boisterous because, at first, they believe their mission to extricate Floyd will be a successful one. They are determined to achieve their goal and free their son and friend. The tenor only changes once reality starts to seep in.
Landau directs Floyd Collins with skill and reserve. She doesn’t make the musical a big flashy spectacle; instead, she focuses on the interpersonal connections that can be found in this harrowing story. For the most part, she is able to overcome the obvious challenge of this show: how on earth to fit an intimate musical on the enormous thrust stage of the Beaumont. A few times it does feel like Floyd Collins is lost amongst the empty space, but for the vast majority of the two-and-a-half hours, the musical works well, as if the characters are whispering in the ears of the audience.
Floyd Collins didn’t take home any Tony glory last week, but that’s only because the slate of musicals and musical revivals was stacked this year. There is nothing that this hard-working cast and inspired creative team need to be ashamed of. They are telling a unique story that often doesn’t make it to Broadway, especially in such a powerful and poignant manner. The show feels like a cousin to Swept Away and Dead Outlaw, two other musicals of this past Broadway season. Perhaps this trend is opening up the door to different theatrical fare in Midtown Manhattan. Let’s hope.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Floyd Collins, directed by Tina Landau, features music and lyrics by Adam Guettel. Landau also wrote the book and additional lyrics. Starring Jeremy Jordan, and featuring Jason Gotay, Sean Allan Krill, Marc Kudisch, Lizzy McAlpine, Wade McCollum, Jessica Molaskey, Taylor Trensch, Cole Vaughan and Clyde Voce. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. Playing through Sunday, June 22, at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Click here for more information and tickets.
