The show must go on for "Groundhog Day" star Andy Karl, who took the stage at the August Wilson Theatre Monday night for the show's official Broadway opening just three days after badly injuring his knee during a preview performance. NY1's Roma Torre filed the following review.
"Groundhog Day" the musical, like the film, is great fun, and it repeats, a lot. And that latter point presents a challenge for the show's creators: how to craft a show about the monotony of a character's life without being monotonous itself. The musical doesn't quite solve that problem. But Andy Karl’s bravura performance still gives us a Groundhog Day to celebrate.
Straight from the film starring Bill Murray, it’s the story of Phil Connors, an arrogant and cynical Pittsburgh weatherman on assignment to cover the annual appearance of Punxsutawney Phil. He finds himself in a kind of time warp in which he keeps waking up on Groundhog Day. And no matter what he does, it’s February 2 all over again. In time, he learns compassion and patience, and he comes to appreciate the small town characters he had condescendingly dismissed.
Danny Rubin, who co-wrote the screenplay with the late Harold Ramis, penned the book, retaining the film's wry humor. And under Matthew Warchus' inventive direction, the show moves at a seamless clip, yet the pacing on that busy set with its five turntables can seem frantic and redundant in spots, bordering on tedium, as Phil is forced to relive the same scenes over and over again.
Tim Minchin's songs are clever if not terribly catchy. They cover a wide range of emotions running the gamut from silly to deadly serious. And perhaps this Groundhog has bitten off more than it can chew with a running time exceeding two-and-a-half hours.
The performances are all fine featuring just two principals. Barrett Doss, in the Andie McDowell role, has a lovely natural quality as the eventual love interest Rita.
But this one belongs almost entirely to Andy Karl, a comedic, romantic musical star of volcanic proportions. He enters the ranks of Broadway's best leading men with warmth, charm and charisma to spare.
The production has certainly weathered its share of storms, from technical glitches to the star's knee injury. But as long Andy Karl remains front and center, the forecast for this Groundhog Day looks pretty bright!