Kelli Barrett, Jessica Vosk (Photo: Marc J. Franklin)
Beaches
By Lydia Sue Keidel
Here’s an idea. Let’s take Beaches, an iconic, cult classic movie, replace the award–winning soundtrack, and put it on stage, without its famous stars! After all, it’s a slam dunk, adapting a Broadway show from a film. Oh, that’s right, it’s NOT. Examples? Despite stars Mary Tyler Moore and Richard Chamberlain, Breakfast at Tiffany’s was cancelled after only 4 previews. Carrie did slightly better, lasting 5 performances. There’s a long list, including infamously Almost Famous (77 performances), and the more recent misfire, Mrs. Doubtfire (43 performances). All of these stage disasters were dimmed by the shadows of their original film. Oy gevalt, as Cee Cee would say, what were they thinking?
Beaches, a new musical now playing at the Majestic Theatre, disappointingly pales compared to its namesake film. Yet it is still a tearjerker. The theme is ageless: it’s the story of a lifelong friendship. Two little girls, Cee Cee and Bertie, form a bond that spans decades. They are as different as night and day: one reserved, the other brash; one Ivy League educated, the other educated on the streets; one WASP, the other Jewish. Still the soulmates survive divergent life paths, jealousies, heartbreaks, marriages and divorces, and finally a fatal illness. Even without the magic of the movie, bring your tissues – you’ll probably need them.
Told through flashbacks, three sets of performers play the duo, at different periods in their lives; as young children when they first met in Atlantic City (Samantha Schwartz and Zeya Grace); as teenagers (Bailey Ryon and Emma Ogea); and as adults (Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett). The play adequately enacts this decades long sisterhood. Unfortunately, we don’t really feel the love. Even so, knowing their history and enduring relationship, it’s heartbreaking when Bertie dies. A moving, and sadly relatable ending.
Samantha Schwartz, Bailey Ryon, Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett, Emma Ogea, Zeya Grace (Photo: Marc J. Franklin)
The script was written by Thom Thomas and Iris Rainer Dart; Dart also wrote the original novel as well as the lyrics for this show. Each genre –film, novel, Broadway– requires a different writing style and skill. They don’t necessarily translate well. Some of the script is directly from the film; the rest of the dialogue is mediocre. The flow is bumpy; at least four times, there was a natural break winding down to an intermission that didn’t happen. At a running time of two and half hours, it drags. It’s easy to follow, though, and there are no surprises.
Costume design by Tracy Christensen helps identify each by dressing each Cee Cee and Bertie in the same color scheme as she ages. James Noone’s scenic design incorporated an ever-present downstage beach, a running theme throughout the show which was well lit (Ken Billington), like the sun glistening off waves.
Ben Jacoby and Brent Theissen, acting the roles of the bosom friends’ love interests, did their jobs well; they supported the ladies then stepped aside. The female leads are the stronger performers, as you might expect. Kelli Barrett, who plays the adult Bertie, is not as strong an actor or singer as her counterpart, even with her Broadway background (Parade, Wicked). Jessica Vosk, a veteran of such shows as Hell’s Kitchen, Fiddler on the Roof, and Finding Neverland, largely carries the show. She enthusiastically embraces the role of Cee Cee, the main character made famous by the Divine Miss M in the movie. Bette Midler is a daunting act to follow; Vosk is fully up for the challenge. She commands the stage with a wide range of skills – acting, comedic timing, and a powerful voice.
Jessica Vosk, Kelli Barrett (Photo: Marc J. Franklin)
Ah, there’s the rub. The underwhelming songs. The bland musical numbers (Music by Mike Stoller; lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart) make the ginormous difference between the blockbuster film and this production.
Producer Jennifer Maloney-Prezioso advocated strongly for this stage show, which took over a decade to develop. It was tested in 2014 in Virginia, then in Chicago in 2015 with different music. The production team agreed it was imperative to keep the films’ signature song, Wind Beneath My Wings. Unfortunately, they didn’t include it within the body of the play at an appropriate time. It was delivered by itself, after the play had finished. Felt like an homage to the film but definitely out of place.
The final takeaway about Beaches: it’s an homage to a beloved film – one that just doesn’t work.
At the Majestic Theater
245 West 44th Street
Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Through September 6, 2026
