‘Summer’ tells a story on stage that doesn’t really need to be told
NEWYORK, N.Y. » There are some people who should be permitted to just let their work speak for them. Donna Summer, who passed away in 2012, is one of those people.
In the biographical juke box musical “Summer: the Donna Summer Musical,” which just opened on Broadway, Summer is an exciting presence when performing her music. There is a sense of creative drive about this woman who was known as The Disco Queen.
However, when the show ventures into biography everything seems awkward, contrived and if not fraudulent - then certainly insin- cere.
The problem of disconnect is made worse as often - too often - a moment from Summer’s life is offered that is supposed to add emotional context to a song.
Granted, the music from the disco era was never noted for its insight, but trying to add real life heartbreak to songs like “Bad Girls,” “She Works Hard for the Money,” “Love to Love You Baby,” somehow lessens the impact of the music that existed primarily to serve as a background to a hedonistic era.
Examples of how the show tries to compensate for a life filled with bad choices is followed by a moment of fondly remembered songs. Most egregious is the issue of alienating her large gay fan base over the alleged comment that “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. The musical’s response is to sing “Friends Unknown” and dedicated it to her assistant who died from AIDS. The moment reeks of insincerity.
But for those who know little about Summer’s personal life and are at the show for a musical tribute, expectations are met and exceeded. In only 100 minutes, without an intermission, the show offers twodozen songs to a rapt audience. Indeed, rarely have I been at a Broadway show at which the audience was more enthusiastic or apparently having a better time.
When the company offers full out production numbers such as “MacArthur Park,” “On the Radio”, it is happy entertainment. And leaving “Last Dance” as a show ending finale that has the entire audience on its feet cheering and dancing is pure en- tertainment genius.
Vocally, Summer is wellserved as the role is shared by three actors. One is Summer as a teenager, Duckling Donna; the other Disco Donna, shows her at the peak of her career. Finally, Diva Donna - the singer as a wiser, mature woman.
Ariana DeBose is terrific as Disco Donna, but LaChanze is magic as Diva Donna. Another great asset is a large, almost totally female ensemble, often dressed in male clothing. They bring an edge to the show that is sadly missing in other areas.