The Empire State Building is undeniably an edifice worthy of song. But too many of them prove to be an overly long night of theater for Empire, a new musical with book, lyrics, and music by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull.
Toggling between 1929 and 1976, it charts the connection between Sylvie in 1976 (Jessica Rainville) and her ancestors who helped construct the stunning monument. As she looks back to the late twenties and early 1930s, we’re introduced to Frances Belle “Wally” Wolodsky (Kaitlyn Davidson), a whip smart, take charge organizer of staffing and materials for the new complex. We also meet Al Smith (Paul Salvatoriello), John J. Raskab (Howard Kaye), and Charles Kinney (Albert Guerzon), three cigar-chompin capitalists with moxie in their guts and money on their minds. There’s also a diverse cast of immigrants who made the building what it would be and some romance between them thrown for good measure, but all of them act more like caricatures in this historically fictitious tuner. When it does attempt serious drama, including the death of construction workers, it seems more melodramatic than somber and grave.
The show does boast a marvelous cast that vocally delivers on this score of traditionally styled showtunes and Lorna Ventura’s choreography gives them some clever moves that will impress audiences. Tony award winner Cady Huffman’s keen direction keeps this story moving as best as it possibly can, but one just wishes the writers would have narrowed the focus of this story and created a better script.
Empire may inspire theatergoers to delve further into the actual history of the building—and give them a special appreciation for the backbreaking work immigrants and many unknown women made to create a site that many of us take for granted.
The skyscraper itself is a marvel. The musical however, is in dire need of reconstruction.
Empire is now playing Off Broadway at New World Stages 340 W 50th St through September 22nd. For tickets and information, visit https://empirethemusical.com
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