By Claire Dumont
Online Sports Editor
A recent arrival in Los Angeles, the musical “Fun Home” stands out and enchants audience.
Opening on February 21,“Fun Home” is the perfect combination of uplifting and serious music and bold subject matter creating a well curated show that is both emotional and entertaining.
The show follows the life of cartoonist Alison Bechdel as she grows up in a dysfunctional family and tries to discover the unknowns of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The story is told through the perspectives of Alison at three distinct stages of her life, played by Alessandra Baldacchino, Abby Corrigan and Kate Shindle.
Learn more about the tour here
The way the story of “Fun Home” is portrayed sets it apart from other musicals. It is originally based off of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name, from which a large part of the style for the musical is taken. Similar to the book, the story isn’t told in chronological order and jumps around through the timeline. This gives the musical a unique style and adds to the intrigue of the musical.
Photos: “Fun Home” is advertised in San Francisco
Throughout the musical, the story faces serious subject matter, all of which is coupled with powerful, emotional songs. The compelling lyrics drive the story forward and provide perspective into the thoughts of the different characters. There is a balance between songs that cover dark subjects as well as uplifting songs for the lighter moments in the play.
Unlike traditional shows, “Fun Home” runs without an intermission, adding to the emotion and the story. The lack of a pause renders a cohesive plot without interruptions, allowing for the story to be told in its entirety. The audience is given the rare opportunity to react and process the story as a whole, all at once, enhancing the emotion and tone of the show.
In addition, the simple set design of “Fun Home” conveys the minimalist tone and setting for the story. The story only requires a few main settings, allowing for few scene changes for large changes of time and place. By the end of the show, the set pieces are also seen as parts of the story and are used to convey the mood of the scene. This adds to the show, giving it more elements to tell the story.
The characters in “Fun Home” are dynamic and complex, which is met with the unparalleled acting that brings the characters to life. As the story progresses and characters go through emotional changes, the acting pairs perfectly, matching the dialogue and music. The actors complement each other on stage, fully bringing each relationship to life.
Visit the Ahamanson Theatre website to buy tickets.
“Fun Home” combines impressive acting, set design and staging with beautiful music and lyrics to create a musical that is unlike any other, and stands out among the rest.
“Fun Home” runs until April 1 2017 at the Ahmanson Theatre.
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