It was kind of nice to revisit these characters, even though I stopped watching the TV show a season or two before its finale. As was the problem with the series, these characters are who they are, and their flaws become tiresome.
The songs by Faith Soloway were really good! More than one showstopper, and all hit that right balance between familiarity and dissidence to make it interesting. I also very much appreciated that I could understand most of the words most of the time.
Still, there are areas that need work.
While "You Must Be (Love at the JCC)" is one of the most entertaining numbers of the show, the storyline between Josh and Raquel feels forced and is the weakest subplot of the show. And that's even more evident in "Quartet" when they try to juxtapose the oldest siblings. While a very nice song, the stakes aren't high enough for Josh and Raquel to the more crucial stakes for Sarah and Len.
"Mom in a Car" desperately needs to be moved to Act 1. Sarah Pfefferman (played by Sarah Stiles) comes across as angry for no reason until that song, and it's a little too late in the show to really care about her and what happens in her relationship. Stiles, an incredible actress and singer, deserves better.
Also, one minute she makes a hard and important decision, and 2 songs later, changes her mind and makes the opposite decision, which makes her whole storyline seem pointless because there's no sign of change or growth, just sentimentality.
Unfortunately, Daya Curley's Maura is lacking. This cast has many incredibly strong performers, and Curley gets swallowed by all the talent around her.
The standout is Liz Larsen's Shelly Pfefferman. Much like Judith Light in the TV series, she's the most fun to watch. Her character (and the actor playing her) has found the right balance of flawed and funny that the audience completely lights up whenever she comes onstage.
There is cutting to be done here. The show doesn't merit the length. Tightening it up all around would be beneficial.
These criticisms are not meant to steer any audience member away. It was an enjoyable evening, and I think we'll be able to say we saw it when. They're meant to help bring the show to a much broader audience, and with these tweaks, I think they'll get there.
7.5/10
*These opinions are entirely my own. I paid for my ticket.
