Jonalyn Saxer is back from Broadway
BY Kitty Dill Durich and Gordon David Durich
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/25/22 – In “Newsies” in her neck of the woods, after a successful career back East is Jonalyn Saxer. At the Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks, this 5 Star Theatricals production, “Newsies” is a brilliant character/story driven work by Harvey Fierstein. We remember when Jonalyn was pre-teen and in a Cabrillo Music Theatre production of the “The Sound of Music.” She was in the Greenroom where we met her, then watched a endearing moment only a budding starlet could bring into play. She was hoping that the actress she was understudying would be sick so she could go on… who among us has not had that kind of yearning? And appropriate ambition.
“Newsies” is a dance-and-song spectacular, based on the Disney film. Set in New York City, it is about the plight of newspaper boys (“Newsies”) who attempt to scape by selling the daily newspaper. Head Newsie Jack Kelly (Wes Williams)’s dream is to get out of NY and go to Santa Fe, which he tells Crutchie (Nolan Almeida). Looming is a trolley (the key mode of transportation) strike which will cripple the city.
Jack and his team clash with the newspaper distributor who sells them the newspapers to sell. Also, the newsies clash with each other. Enter Katherine Plumber (Jonalyn Saxer) who presents herself as a journalist with The Sun and reviewing a Broadway show, and she meets Jack. The plot thickens as she aligns herself with Jack and his colleagues in their mission to sell newspapers at a reasonable price. Albeit unwillingly. “There’s a change a comin.’”
The anti-Newsies show up with baseball bats — never a good sign — and beat up a helpless individual, Crutchie. The clash between management and newspaper sellers leads to a strike and not sell the “papes.” The Newsies, lead by Jack, want to form a union and picket with Jack. This leads to Jack being chased by cops. Medda Larkin (Amanda Bailey) a black Broadway star supports the newsies. Her key number is “That’s Rich.” Racy and raw, this is one of the controversial scenes in “Newsies.”
More than just a musical, “Newsies” is an experience, with sharp, tight choreography and dance and song. “King of New York” was a stunning scene, tapping by the boys, and spoiler alert, gal. You will have to see it for yourself, to find out who!
Jonalyn Saxer shines, and is a true triple threat, actor, singer and dancer. In ensemble roles, Ray Mastrovito played a convincing President Roosevelt and a comical barber Nunzio. The only substitute actor was Craig Sherman who effectively played Pulitzer.
“Newsies” run was July 15 – 24, 2022. Next up from 5 Star Theatricals (at the Kavil) is “The Addams Family” new musical comedy, October 14-23, in time for Halloween.
www.5StarTheatricals.com