Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil: The Musical
The new musical Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Musical based on John Berendt's 1994 book based on a true story, made its world premiere at Goodman Theatre. This musical adaptation is drastically different for those who read the book and saw the movie. Taylor Mac's exceptional creativity and vibrant vision are evident in every aspect of this production. The incredibly talented recipient of the Genius Grant brings a glamorous and daring style to this musical, creating an experience that is both enthralling, thought-provoking, and confusing, particularly for those familiar with the original story. Inspired by the actual events surrounding the shooting of Daniel Lewis Hansford, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil follows the protagonist, Jim Williams, an antique dealer, as he faces four trials for the murder of a male prostitute living within his quarters. Mac's opening in the 1990s, Savannah, Georgia, Midnight in the Garden of Good, and Evil replaced the journalist with that of the audience to engage the audience. The 26-member cast with understudies, including Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee as The Lady Chablis, Tony nominee Tom Hewitt as Jim Williams, and Olivier nominee Sierra Boggess as Emma Dawes, delivered outstanding performances. Brianna Buckley's portrayal of Minerva and Austin Colby's Danny Hansford was particularly noteworthy, showcasing their exceptional talent and dedication to their roles. The extraordinary and exceptional performance of J. Harrison Ghee as The Lady Chablis truly brought this musical to life. While the cast gave stellar performances, Ghee's charisma and charm elevated the play to a new level. Ghee's remarkable talent shone through in his captivating dance routines, impressive vocal abilities, and brilliant comedic timing. It's evident that Mac chooses to make Ghee the focal point of the musical, pulling away from the central narrative of the shooting of Danny Hansford, and Ghee doesn't disappoint with his show-stopping presence. He delivers a performance that is nothing short of magic on stage.
Taylor Mac's decision to alter the narrative of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' through J. Harrison Ghee's character, Lady Chablis, was a bold move. However, it also led to a significant deviation from the original story, which may disappoint those who are fond of the source material. The cast's performances are impressive, but the changes dilute the main plot by introducing too many characters and their ambitions, and to a point, the Good and Evil shady charm of Savannah, Georgia. The musical also tried too hard to incorporate a crime into the comedy. Although the songs were executed well with the characters' narratives, they still felt more Broadway-like rather than connecting to the local focus of the residents of Savannah, Georgia. Mac's version, indeed, was refreshingly entertaining. The alternative storyline failed to build up to a satisfying climax and deviated significantly from the original. As a result, I believe that audiences outside of the press night attendees, including family, friends, and The Goodman staff, may struggle to follow this modified interpretation. While I appreciate that musicals typically feature more songs than a traditional narrative, this musical ratio of songs to narrative may have needed to be more balanced, detracting from its original focus. To truly capture the essence of the award-winning 1995 Boeke Prize and being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction in the same year, it would benefit from a more additional narration that brought the audience back into the main focus and fewer songs.
Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil features remarkable costumes by Toni-Leslie James and an immaculate, eerie set design featuring amazing Southern live oak trees with heavy Spanish moss. The second part of this production, with its old 50's style Broadway dance number, lacks a connection with the genre or central theme of this well-known true crime story. The flashy and extravagant dance number, reminiscent of 1950s Broadway performances, felt out of place in a story about the trials of Jim Williams. Even Hewitt's singing and his attorney's Fred Astaire-inspired song and dance act failed to hit the mark, further highlighting the disconnect. Too many changes are needed to make this production successful, but it has the ingredients to shine — as it stands now, without J. Harrison Ghee, the musical, is dead on arrival.
⭐⭐
Goodman Theatre
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL: THE MUSICAL
Book by Taylor Mac - Based in the Book by John Berendt
Directed By: Rob Ashford
June 26 - August 18, 2024
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