By Joanie Cox-Henry
Photo by Joan Marcus
Hellooooooooo, poppets! Rob McClure is an instant delight as America's favorite fake Scottish-accented nanny! Playing Euphegnia Doubtfire in a live stage production is no easy feat, especially with the late Robin Williams portraying this beloved character in the original film version.
While McClure clearly had some big sensible shoes to fill, he did with vibrance and plenty of pizazz. I caught the opening night of the show that hit Broward Center for the Performing Arts on April 9 and runs through April 21, 2024.
Mrs. Doubtfire: The New Musical Comedy is a heartwarming, raucous delight from start to finish. Based on the 1993 film, it brings the story of a divorced dad who creates an outrageous nanny persona to spend time with his kids to the stage with boundless energy and laughs aplenty.
McClure fully embodies the dual roles of Daniel Hillard and his alter ego Mrs. Doubtfire. The powerhouse singer and comedian seamlessly transitions from doting father to elderly nanny with impeccable comic timing. His performance of showstopping numbers like "As Long As There Is Love" and "I Want To Be There" showcase his impressive vocals and acting chops.
But McClure doesn't just resurrect Williams' iconic portrayal - he makes the roles his own with a charm and heart that keeps you rooting for Daniel every step of the way. His chemistry with co-stars Maggie Lakis, who plays his ex-wife Miranda, and young actors Giselle Gutierrez, Cody Braverman, and Emerson Mae Chan as his children sparkles.
The Mrs. Doubtfire musical adaptation takes some notable departures from the big screen version. For example, there are some notable plot changes.
While the core premise remains the same, the musical fleshes out certain storylines and characters. For instance, Daniel's brother Frank (played by Aaron Kaburick) has a much bigger role, providing comic relief but also highlighting the strained relationship between the siblings. The character of Miranda's new love interest Stu (Leo Roberts) is also more prominently featured as a romantic obstacle for Daniel.
There are also expanded roles for kids. In the film, the kids were more reactive to the chaos around them. But in the musical, Daniel's children have bigger personalities and even get their own musical numbers to showcase their struggles with their parents' divorce.
With music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, the original score leans into the over-the-top comedy of Daniel's increasingly zany attempts to pull off the Mrs. Doubtfire ruse. Numbers like "Make Me A Woman" and "He Lied To Me" revel in the madcap hilarity. The makeup application scene is now a big showy segment set to the song "Ye Olde Baddie."
While keeping the early 90s setting, the musical also makes some updates for contemporary audiences but puts more emphasis on themes of divorce, gender roles, and feminism through added scenes and dialogue. Miranda's internal journey as a working mom rediscovering her identity who gets no help at home until Mrs. Doubtfire comes along gets more attention, too.
This show is insanely funny and really brings these treasured characters to life in a magical way.
The iconic scene where Mrs. Doubtfire slams her face into a creamy cake to avoid getting 'recognized' by a child services advocate comes to life in this show in a priceless way. "If I don't do this for my skin, my pores clog up like the toilets at Woodstock," McClure's character quips.
This and so many other scenes will leave you laughing uncontrollably. This show is fantastic fun and drives home a deeper message about love and how families come in all shapes and sizes and can be anything you want them to be as long as there's love. Thirty-one years later, Mrs. Doubtfire is still showing us what really matters.
Head to Broward Center for the Performing Arts and catch Mrs. Doubtfire: The New Musical Comedy!
For tickets click here.
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