"Fun Home" @ Great Escape Stage Company - 6/15/23 - 6/25/23

 

Based on Alison Bechdel's autobiographical graphic novel, the musical Fun Home is a story of family tragedy sprinkled with moments of humor as Alison looks back on her life and relationship with her father after his suspected suicide. It's narrated by Alison who, looking back, sees her child self (Small Alison) who isn't yet aware she's a lesbian and college self (Medium Alison) who becomes fully aware during her relationship with classmate Joan. Soon after she learns from her mother that her father had several extramarital affairs with men, including underage males. We see Alison's lifelong complicated relationship with her father playout at the family home from where her father also ran his own funeral home. Or, as Alison and her two younger siblings billed it, their "Fun Home." 

Director Randy Lake and his group at Great Escape Stage Company staged an impressive and exceptionally powerful production. Elinor Marsh delivered terrific vocals and a remarkable performance. Her Telephone Wire song as she narrates riding along with her father during the last time they would talk, never finding the right words, was devastatingly real. Chris Howell fully captures Alison's complicated father Bruce struggling with how to be a father and with his own inner demons, including initiating trysts in the home with Josh Vreeland who delivers a great performance in various roles. The father's journey culminates in his desperate Edges of the World. As Alison's mother, Andrea Rogers makes you feel her strained mental weariness from decades of remaining with her spouse through so many affairs -- particularly the private and public trauma stemming from his seduction of underage boys -- highlighted in song with her wrenching Days and Days.  

We see Alison experience her youth again through her younger counterparts, Medium and Small Alison. Kyra Hill gives an amazing performance as the college-aged Medium Alison as she fully discovers her sexuality after meeting fellow student Joan, with Mary Sramek giving a solid performance as the much more confident partner who also tries to help Alison with her parents. Kyra shines in both the comedic aspects (including her changing her major to "Joan" number) and dramatic aspects (including facing the tension with her parents after their vague response to her coming out to them). 

Fifth grade student Julia "Bat" Spaulding is a great find in just her third stage role, this time starring as Small Alison. Sincere, fun, and with strong vocals, she is a standout throughout. That includes her role in the hilarious imaginary commercial Welcome to the Fun Home (joined by her enthusiastic younger siblings played by Owen Jones and Maximus Dixon), her fond memories of good times with her father, her anxious and confused memories when she vaguely realized something was wrong, and her great, earnest performance of Ring of Keys when she first finds herself feeling an inexplicable kinship between her young tomboy-ish self and a butch-looking female. 

All three talented Alisons come together at the end of this poignant production for a cathartic finale of Flying Away.

Little Alison: Julia Spaulding

Medium Alison: Kyra Hill

Alison: Elinor Marsh

Helen Bechdel: Andrea Rogers

Bruce Bechdel: Chris Howell

John Bechdel: Maximus Dixon

Christian Bechdel: Owen Jones

Joan: Mary Sramek

Roy/Mark/Pete: Josh Vreelend

Director: Randy Lake

Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Chris Fulbright

Musical Director: Elena Solero

Costumes: Hannah Snow