More Theater Monday - Vanities - The Musical

We were given complimentary tickets to Vanities - The  Musical for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What:  Vanities - The Musical 

Where: The York Theatre Company at Theatre at St. Jean's

             150 E. 76th St.

              New York, NY

Who: Recommend for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through April 22, 2023

Vanities the Musical is about the evolution of a friendship.   When we first meet the three main characters, they are close friends and fellow high school cheerleaders. Next,  we see them as college sorority sisters and later years after college. The musical shows how their lives, attitudes, and friendships change over the years. 

The first is Joanne. She is the kind of girl for whom marriage and children are everything. She doesn't understand why it wouldn't be that way for everyone. She is sure that she will marry her high school sweetheart and be with him forever. She is perkily portrayed by Hayley Podshun.

The second is Kathy. She is the one who changes the most, over the course, of the show. At first, she is a strict disciplinarian ruled by lists, but gradually she learns to let go and that she doesn't have to have everything planned out all the time. She is pensively played by Amy Keum.

The last is Mary. Mary is more of a free spirit and go-with-the-flow kind of person than the other two. The character is spunkily played by Jade Jones.

The show is an update of an earlier musical that was itself based on a play of the same name. In the original play and musical, the show was about three southern belles. Here, in keeping with the move toward more equitable theater, the show has been diversified. Kathy is Asian and Mary is Black and nonbinary. Only Joanne could still fit the stereotypical image of the southern belle.

The music in the show is not especially memorable. However, the voices are nice, and there are some really nice harmonies when the three sing together. 

The show is interestingly staged with mirrors, vanities, and furniture that we use to make ourselves up, which seems to signify that we are always putting on a face to show the world and never really showing our completely true selves. This is underscored by the fact that the three actresses appear in the same black outfits throughout most of the show and most of the costume changes are only made on three mannequins that represent them. Clothes are also only things we put on and don't necessarily show what is really going on inside us. The clothing changes also show the evolution of these characters' lives and attitudes. They start out in the same homogenous cheerleading uniforms and then gradually their wardrobes diversify as they drift apart and their attitudes and lives become increasingly different.

All in all, it is a  show not only about friendship and the way friendships can change over time but about growing up and finding the life you were meant to lead. If you are in a place where you are struggling with figuring out what you really want to do with your life, you may find some aspects of the show triggering. If not. you may enjoy this thoughtful show.

And that's our view. For more about Vanities the Musical or to purchase tickets, visit yorktheatre.org/vanities

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Photo credits:

All Vanities the Musical production photos by Carol Rosegg