RSS
Entertainment


Home Page > Entertainment > New York Times says 'Finian's Rainbow' is sunshine over Broadway

Blogs


comment on article Make a comment
print this article Print
email this articleE-mail

New York Times says 'Finian's Rainbow' is sunshine over Broadway

Times verdict: Jim Norton a massive hit in 'Rainbow'

By
KELLY FINCHAM,
Irish Central.com Editor

Published Friday, October 30, 2009, 10:08 AM
Updated Friday, October 30, 2009, 12:25 PM

 

Bookmark and Share

Stealing the show: Jim Norton and Kate Baldwin in a scene from "Finian's Rainbow"
Stealing the show: Jim Norton and Kate Baldwin in a scene from "Finian's Rainbow"

The verdict is in from the New York Times: “Finian’s Rainbow,” and its Irish star Jim Norton, is a huge hit. Not to say "we told you so," but we did back in September when Irish Voice critic Cahiir O'Doherty said the show was going to take Broadway by storm.

Theater critic Charles Isherwood says the Irish show is a ray of sunshine over Broadway.

“Permanent sunshine can confidently be predicted for the vicinity of the St. James Theater, where the joyous revival of ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ opened on Thursday night,” he says.

And Isherwood singles out the "reliably delightful" Norton for major praise saying the Irish Tony winner steals the show.

“I cannot think of an actor I cherish more than Mr. Norton, whose performances in the plays of Conor McPherson (‘The Weir,’ ‘Dublin Carol’ and ‘Port Authority,’ in addition to ‘Seafarer’) compose a body of work unsurpassed in its artistry, humanity and truth by that of any actor in New York in the past decade,” he says.

“I freely admit I never expected — or for that matter wanted — to see [Norton] singing and dancing in a Broadway musical.

“Well, here he is, carrying a tune a little gingerly, as if it were a newborn kitten he’s in danger of dropping, and leaping skyward with an enthusiasm to match anyone’s onstage.

“Better yet, Mr. Norton brings to his potentially stereotypical role, that of the wily-lovable Irishman with a fondness for drink, the very qualities I mentioned before, which can be scarce in confectionary Broadway musicals new or old: namely, artistry, humanity and truth.”

Isherwood plumps for the classic song "“How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” which is performed by star Kate Baldwin as his favorite from the show.

“The tune is folk-simple, the words drenched in stock ideas of Irishness, but as performed with both sophistication and sincerity by Ms. Baldwin, it has the distilled beauty of an art song.

“The crinkling blue eyes of Mr. Norton’s Finian, the classic sentimental Irishman, are soon misted over with longing, but he may not be the only one in the house in need of a handkerchief.”

Isherwood recommends 'Finian's Rainbow' as the perfect picker-upper for the shortened days.

“Here is where you should head this fall to warm your soul," he says.

print this article Print
email this articleE-mail


Be the first to make a comment.

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.


Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.


Connect to IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

Welcome to IrishCentral!
Please provide the following information in order to create your account

Username:
E-Mail Address:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy


Welcome to IrishCentral!
All we need is the following information and you will be part of the #1 Irish community in the US

E-Mail Address:
First select a unique username:
Username:
Now choose a password:
Password:
Confirm Password:
I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Thank you!

Just one more step and you will be part of the largest Irish community in America! Tell us a little more about you to start enjoying all the features of IrishCentral.

Additional Information:

First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Zip:
Gender: Male  Female 
Country:
Degree of Irishness:
Household Income:
Level of Education:

Subscribe to our newsletters:

The Best of IrishCentral - Daily Newsletter
Special Offers from our sponsors

or
Skip

You can edit your information at any time, just go to "my account" when you're logged in.

Log into IrishCentral with your Facebook account

or sign-in directly

E-Mail:
Password:
 Remember me Forgot my password