Blood, rain, gravel and grease. The greasers and socs have taken their fight to Broadway. Based both on the novel written by S.E. Hinton and the film by Francis Ford Coppola, “The Outsiders” is a new musical retelling of the story of Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade as they struggle to navigate the complexities of growing up and self-discovery during immense hardships. With source material that was on nearly every American student’s required reading list, the musical has some large expectations to fulfill. And fulfill it does!
It’s rare for a show to carry such electricity from the moment the curtain opens to its very last bow, but “The Outsiders” does just that. From the time Brody Grant takes his first steps on the stage as Ponyboy you are transported with him through time to Oklahoma in 1967. The opening number, “Tulsa ‘67,” is just the first in a score full of catchy tunes sure to be stuck in your head long after you’ve left the theater. Grant’s performance throughout the show is brilliantly balanced with Sky Lakota-Lynch’s Johnny Cade. After Johnny accidentally commits a heinous crime in an attempt to save Ponyboy’s life, the two young boys are left questioning what to do. Both actors perfectly capture the complex push and pull of their characters’ adolescence and the situation they’ve fallen into.
Every aspect of the production is a visual stunner. Every element of creative design blends so seamlessly together. The stage adaptation of the iconic rumble that fans of either the book or film will immediately know is the perfect example of how well executed this show is. Instead of a traditional stage, the creative team decided on a loose rubber “gravel” that the actors could pick up, kick or throw throughout the course of the show. The effect of the gravel, paired with pouring rain and the most jaw-dropping fight choreography on Broadway right now, creates a must-see spectacle. It’s “Newsies” meets “West Side Story” in the most amazing way possible.
The real heart of the show, however, isn’t the breathtaking visual but rather its emotional depth. Brent Comer and Jason Schmidt’s performances as Darrel and Sodapop, brothers of Ponyboy, excellently delve into the heartbreaking grief surrounding the Curtis family. “Soda’s Letter,” performed by all three brothers in the second act, is written with such simple yet powerful lyrics that even the most stoic of audience members would struggle to not get emotional during the scene.
The entire score is written by the combined talents of Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine. Every song has a youthful and modern feel while still managing to feel connected to the time period of the piece. “Great Expectations,” sung by Ponyboy as he aspires for something more in the first act, is such a magnificent moment that it alone is reason enough to see the show.
It’s hard to find fault within a show as well-conceived as “The Outsiders,” but it is worth noting that the show is certainly not for all viewers. Those unfamiliar with the source material should be warned that the show contains lots of graphic violence and character death. Fake blood is used multiple times throughout the show and may be disturbing to some viewers. Those considering seeing the show should also note that, while soft and harmless, the fake gravel is thrown multiple times across the first few rows of the orchestra during the show.
When someone thinks “The Outsiders,” a musical adaptation probably isn’t their first thought. Once they see this production, however, it certainly will be. Cleverly crafted in such a way that it will please even the most skeptical fans, this show is one of those unforgettable experiences that once you’ve seen it, you’ll never forget it.
“The Outsiders” is currently running at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
Rating: 4.75/5
