Alison Bechdel released an autobiographical book in 2006 titled Fun Home, based on her life growing up in a small town in Pennsylvania. It was a graphic novel that told the story of what seemed to be a typical American nuclear family with secrets and a facade that cracked under pressure.
Fun Home became a hit Broadway musical in 2013. Jeanine Tesori composed the music, and Lisa Kron wrote the book and lyrics. Bechdel was a light in the LGBTQ firmament who showed that her upbringing was mainstream and more common than some folks were willing to admit. Porchlight Music Theatre premiered its new production of Fun Home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Stephen Schellhardt directs the show, and Heidi Joosten directs the music. It's worth venturing out in a frigid Chicago cold snap to hear the music and watch the story of the Bechdel family as they navigate life in the closet of American expectations.
The Bechdels appear to be a regular All-American family; as it turns out, they are. Every family has secrets and things left unsaid because that has always been the American way. Bruce (Patrick Byrnes) is a high school teacher who restores historic houses and runs the family funeral business. Byrnes is fantastic as the closeted man who preys on his students while posing as the perfect father who wants his children to appear perfect. His portrayal of an emotionally abusive and deeply unhappy man is heartbreaking. American tradition says he cannot be himself and must present his perfect family and himself as an outstanding citizen and father.
Neala Barron plays Helen, the emotionally abused mother. Barron gives a beautiful performance with the restraint of a dam waiting to burst. Her voice is gorgeous and operatic when she sings "Days and Days," about watching life go by as she tries to deny the truth about her marriage sham. She tries to be perfect for Bruce and makes the children perfect to keep Bruce from erupting and terrorizing the household.
Alison's role is divided into three eras of her life. Meena Sood played Small Alison on opening night (she alternates with Tessa Mae Pundsack in the role). Sood is charming as the young girl, both loving and fearful of her domineering father, who insists on his way with passive-aggressive pressure. Sood has a lovely singing voice that sounds young without being cloying or overly emotive.
Z Mowry plays Middle Alison, who goes to Oberlin College and realizes she is a lesbian thanks to her first love, Joan, played by a fantastic Dakota Hughes. Mowry and Hughes have easy chemistry and are fun to watch as their relationship grows. After her first sexual encounter with a partner, Mowry sings one of the funniest songs I have heard in a musical: "Changing My Major (to Joan)."
Alanna Chavez plays adult Alison, who always searches for the perfect caption for her drawings and memories. It is a sound performance of recalling trauma and reconciling that she can now see her father's grief from denying his truth. She could live her truth openly, whereas Bruce spent his life in furtive encounters and self-deception. Alison has the gift of being clear in her identity and the guilt of knowing that her father both loved and resented his family and did not have the privilege of choice.
Charlie Long gives a great performance as Christian, the middle child (alternating with Eli Lander Griend). Hayes McCracken plays John, the youngest brother (alternating with Austin Hartung). Alison, Christian, and John perform one of my favorite songs with fantastic choreography: "Come to the Fun Home," which is Bechdel vernacular for the family business—a funeral home. The Bechdel kids' imaginary commercial is a rocking number with a Jackson Five groove and melody reminiscent of "I Want You Back."
Lincoln J. Skoien plays multiple roles in the show. He is an amalgam of Bruce's victims and tricks. He is the gardener that the family did not need. He is also a student who allows Bruce to ply him with beer and accompany him on long drives. Skoien is featured in an all-cast number called "Raincoat of Love" that takes place in Alison's imagination. I found it reminiscent of musical fever dreams from the Six Feet Under (2001-2005) HBO series. That is the only issue I have with some of the musical parts of the play. The television series is about the challenges of running a family funeral home business; in one episode, two characters break into song performing imaginary musical commercials.
Fun Home is a good show with great performances from a talented cast. It is a good adaptation of the graphic novel and Bechdel's style of slice-of-life vignettes from Dykes to Watch Out For. Regarding the graphic novel, Jonathan Berg-Einhorn's scenic design for Fun Home is fantastic, designed in the same palette as the book, with a perfect imagining of Bruce's ornate restorations. The stained glass and hanging panels reflect the multi-faceted family and their complicated inner lives.
I highly recommend Fun Home for its adaptation of Bechdel's book. It tells the story without skimming over the character development and does not dip into an after-school special mode. The cast is strong and energetic, with great voices that blend well. The observational comedy style feels genuine, like the book. Only the previously mentioned musical similarities to another show about a funeral home struck me as derivative.
Fun Home runs 100 minutes with no intermission. It plays through March 2 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. For tickets and more information, please visit PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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