The Tony Award-winning musical is selling out fast at the Aurora theatre
Examining family secrets has always been fair game in the theatre. Fun Home, (short for funeral home – the family business) now on stage at Vintage Theatre in Aurora, is no exception. Coupled with a trio of remarkable actors playing the same character at three different stages in her life, this production of the Tony Award-winning best musical is a delight from start to finish.
Based on the graphic novel memoir of the same name by Alison Bechdel and directed by Emma Maxfield with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori, Fun Home is an electrifying staging of a family’s innermost secrets as they unravel and are eventually laid bare in front of the audience. Although not quite a musical comedy, Fun Home has its share of laughs along the way, with impressive musical numbers telling the story flawlessly.
Little by little, the audience is enveloped by the secrets of Bruce Bechdel (Lars Preece) and the entire Bechdel family. As seen through the eyes of Alison (Maya Ferrario), a successful cartoonist, the story is also told through recollections of Medium Alison (River Hetzel) and Small Alison (Macaelle “Mac” Vasquez). The central action swirls around the relationship between Alison and her closeted gay father at three distinct junctures in her life – 9 years old, as a college student, and finally in her mid-40s.
*Note: The role of Small Alison is played alternately by Vasquez and Adeleia Odekirk.
Medium Alison is a college freshman when she meets Joan (Elise Brianne Todd) and first discovers her lesbianism. The audience is in on their first night together, sealing it with a kiss that cements Alison’s newfound sexuality. She writes to her parents about her sexual awakening only to be told by her mother Helen (Adrienne Asterita) that her father, (Marlene Hall), has been having relationships with boys and men.
The news rocks her, while other recollections by all three Alisons shine a light on the discovery of her father’s sexuality. Alison even contemplates the connection between her coming out and the early demise of her father. The curtain falls with Alison drawing an innocent moment with Small Alison being lifted in the air by her father playing “airplane.”
Photo: RDGPhotography
Symbiotic performances
The three Alisons — Ferrario, Hetzel, and Vasquez — bring an almost eerie inter-connectedness, as if one mysteriously extends to the next. Their characterizations draw from the same energy, contributing to three beautifully symbiotic performances. Ferrario is commanding in the role of 40-something Alison while Hetzel is equally captivating as Medium Alison exploring her youthful sexuality. Vasquez gives a gracefully believable performance as Small Alison, especially given her young age.
Preece provides a strong, intentional interpretation as Bruce. Although the audience may feel a certain amount of pity for Bruce by the end, there is little shame associated with him — nor is he really considered a victim. As his wife, Helen, Asterita is appropriately melancholy and distracted by her husband’s sexual proclivity. In the supporting roles of Roy, Mark, Pete, and Bobby Jeremy, Hall is hugely believable and at times transcendent. Playing Joan, Todd thankfully provides a character who releases a breath of fresh air amongst the difficult and unrelenting subject matter.
This is Emma Maxfield’s professional directing debut, and she comes to this project with the vision of a seasoned director. As summarized in the program, Maxfield has a lengthy history with Fun Home, and she is more than prepared to bring this production to fruition. She successfully leads an energized group of actors to explore topics that are at times difficult to play out — and to do so without judgment or ridicule.
Music is central to the production. The score by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Lisa Kron allow each character to express their innermost feelings through strong musical numbers. The cast’s singing voices are robust and easily meet the demands of the score. Tucked away next to the stage is a a quartet of fine musicians who play masterfully. And while many of the songs are a bit maudlin, watch for the hilarious tongue-in-cheek number advertising the funeral home that pokes fun at the family business.
As mentioned in the director’s note, seeing Fun Home is just the beginning of the journey to understand human nature and its impact on family life. The premise of Fun Home is not always an easy pill to swallow, but it is worth investing 100 minutes to get to know the Bechdel family and all their secrets. But act fast — the theatre says this one is selling quickly!
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