The Immigrant Should Have Stayed In Russia

Critics Rating: 2 out of 5 spotlights

The Immigrant, currently in production at Stage Door Theatre's 26th Street Theatre, is being advertised as "A New American Musical". If this critic was a lawyer, this show would be sued for false advertising.

The Immigrant was originally a play about a Russian Jew who flees Czarist Russia and arrives in Hamilton, Texas. At the time the story took place, the town was a Baptist community who did not take kindly to strangers. Haskell, the main character played by Joey Zangardia, arrives at the door of Ima and Milton Perry to sell bananas off his cart. After a few minutes, the couple realizes he is hungry and tired and is ushered into the home for the night. Six weeks later, Milton offers to help Haskell expand his business. Saving up his money, Haskell sends for his wife, Leah, and the four characters experience the struggles and ignorance that America dealt towards foreigners.

Adding music to this show was the biggest mistake ever made. Unfortunately, the songs seemed to appear out of thin air and did not follow any rational placement throughout the show. The lack of music quality hurt the casts' ability to showcase their talent. It instead, showed a lot of the casts' weaknesses. For example, Gordon Gray, who played Milton, was an excellent actor when it came to straight acting. When the music played and it was time for him to sing, he changed into a high school student that had never been in a show in his life. His timing was completely off and was horribly droning.

The songs itself were completely ear-pulling and very hard to listen to. "Changes", a song in the first act between Milton and Haskell, was at least 7 minutes of dialogue that had no reason for music in the first place. "The Stars-Opening" made absolutely no sense being the first thing the audience heard from the "musical".

There were two factors that saved this show from receiving a 1 out of 5 in my rating system. The first factor was Joey Zangardia. This actor has an amazing voice and an acting talent that fully allowed the audience to feel the emotions that an immigrant at that time would have felt. The other factor was a few of the musical pieces that brought humor to this dramatic show. The second number in the second act, entitled, "Padadooly". In this musical number, Ima and Leah discuss all the lucky charms and superstitions that each of their cultures obtain. This whimsical tune showed how two completely different ways of life had some beliefs in common.

Being directed and choreographed by Hugh Murphy, this is not the usual high-quality show that I have seen from him in the past, and I have to say that this critic is very surprised and disappointed by the lack of entertainment in the production and hope to see a turn around in the next show that he directs.

The Immigrant will continue to be shown at the 26th Street Theatre until May 11th, 2008. Also in production at this time is Thoroughly Modern Millie until March 3oth and Baby until March 31st. Coming soon to Stage Door Theatre is "Groucho!" opening on April 10th and Starting Here, Starting Now will be in production from April 18th through June 8th. For more information, contact the Stage Door Theatre's box office at (954) 344-7765, check their website at www.stagedoortheatre.com or www.fusion726.com/5mins