Catch Me If You Can.

Used to be my favorite movie and now it's my favorite current Broadway musical. Honestly, it astounds me that critics have anything other to say than "simply amazing", but all are entitled to their opinion. In all the reviews you'll hear about the leggy dancers and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's jaw-dropping score and especially the show-stopping number "Don't Break the Rules" performed by Norbert Leo Butz. I'm not just going to rephrase all the reviews about how wonderful all these things are (they really are amazing), but seriously, there should be more raves about Aaron Tveit (plays Frank Abagnale Jr.)

I have seen the show three times in the two months that it's been on Broadway and he is one of the main reasons I keep coming back. He's on stage for nearly the entirety of the show, singing and dancing his way through these phenomenal 60s TV show-esque numbers, while, when called for, really breaks down and conveys that he's truly just a kid that got mixed up in this game. His presence is amazing. Every time he walks on stage it's impossible to take your eyes off him, you continue to root for him, and even pity him, and you truly get lost in the story. The fact that he didn't even get nominated for a Tony this year is complete bullshit (excuse my language, no words can describe my anger).

Even after that seemingly exhausting show, Aaron comes right out, puts on a smile and goes from person to person letting them talk to him and take a few pictures.

Aaron Tveit

Kerry Butler singing Fly Fly Away
Pictures from Broadway.com

The second person who deserves more recognition is Kerry Butler. Though she isn't the show for very long, her solo "Fly Fly Away" is chilling. She has such a beautiful voice, she's and amazing actress and the context of that song is truly heartbreaking.

There were a few moments when, even in this, for the most part, up-beat, feel good musical, I was shaded by truly emotional, and even sometimes relatable story. The first is when Frank is asked to choose between his parents, I doubt there's a worse decision a child could possibly have to make. Second is when Frank is lonely at all the motels calling anyone, even room service, just to hear someones voice, and third, when Frank Sr. doesn't live up to his fatherly duty to tell Frank Jr. to stop conning people. The last though, and most emotional, is when Carl Hanratty tell Frank of his father's death. That moment of Tveit's sobbing, just he and Butz, on a black stage with just a spotlight on them.

Beneath all the glam, colorful lights, terrific numbers, it's really just a story of a confused kid who ran away from home in a time of despair, something I think all of us have wanted to do, at some point in our lives, and can truly relate to.