Despite the hit standards, the accomplished singer-actors and the dancers whose feats of terpsichorean athleticism embody the boldness of the big-band era, Marriott Theatre’s “Swing!” is likely to frustrate discerning theatergoers craving a little more than the old-fashioned revue. Blame shows like “Movin’ Out, ” but these days the “dansical” can have an emotional connection with its audiences despite the razzmatazz nature of its showmanship. To be fair, “Swing!” intends to be nothing but escapist entertainment and on this basic level it delivers. But director (and co-choreographer) Marc Robin’s uninspired attempts to lace these antiseptic musical numbers with thematic context and character motifs either falls flat, raises unmet dramatic expectations for the piece as a whole or brings the show’s dance momentum to a screeching halt. Ultimately, “Swing!” never lives up to the promise of its title’s self-assigned exclamation mark. (F.O. Almeida)
The Original “Dance Mom”: A Review of “Gypsy” at Marriott Theatre The television show “Dance Moms” has gained wide popularity for featuring overbearing mothers obsessed with their child’s (re: their) dreams of grandeur and stardom, but none of these ladies hold a candle to the mom in Marriott Theatre’s “Gypsy.” Move over Maddie Ziegler. Step aside Abby Lee Miller. Rose Hovick is in town!
