Musical Theatre Guild's season of beguiling revisits to beloved musicals continue to enchant. On Monday, February 23, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, the company dusted off the durable Broadway chestnut Finian's Rainbow, and the luck of the Irish seemed to be in full bloom. Of course, there's always much more than luck contributing to the success of MTG's endeavors, and this fanciful fable, under the solid direction of Gary Gordon and featuring a spirited cast, provided a magical evening.
As many Broadway buffs know, this show is nowadays considered by some as dated and controversial and is thus seldom revived, despite its engaging book and lilting Burton Lane-E.Y. Harburg score. It all depends on whether you want to look at its satirical jabs at racial discrimination as trenchantly amusing or offensive. When the musical premiered in 1947, it certainly must have felt unique--and a bit daring--to even touch upon these issues. As I see it, the topic is humorously and inoffensively presented in the book, and as the show's heart is in the right place--with a message of tolerance--the naysayers seem a bit misguided.