Marilyn is a new play emerging, even as the show progresses, from the pad and piano of Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle), longtime collaborators who love each other in the way only straight women and gay men can love in a show like this one.Although Julia has promised her (loving, dull) husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) that she is going to take time off from being part of “Broadway’s hottest team” to adopt a baby daughter, the mere mention of Monroe as a musical subject is far too tantalizing. Before you can say “Joltin’ Joe,” she and Tom are cranking out a number and catching the attention of Big Time Producer Eileen (Anjelica Huston). Whose ugly divorce proceedings have frozen all her assets including, wouldn’t you know it, a new production of My Fair Lady.Which frees up the lascivious but super-talented director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport). Whom Eileen snags and offers to Julia and Tom, waving away their but-we-only-have-onenumber bewilderment even as she pencils in the out-of-town opening.It’s all totally absurd, of course, but in a breathlessly wide-eyed and knowing way that is terrific fun to watch. And for every bit of bizarre business (are Julia and Frank the only people on the planet who do not know it takes a long time to adopt a baby from China?), there are seven or eight real-life details (“We are not the chorus, we are the ensemble”) to keep things from floating too high into the rafters.The return of Messing to network television doesn’t hurt, either.Swathed in Creative Type scarves, colorful Tina-Fey specs and that signature hair, her Julia is both endearing and irritating. As are most of the characters, each a promising balance of one thing and another – in early episodes, Hilty’s Ivy especially vacillates between ego and insecurity in a most convincing and moving way.Not that Smash is to be confused with a moody character study or a biting backstage satire. This is one big unapologetic feather-headress-waving, sequined derriere-twitching, high-note-holding love song to the siren call of song, dance and the theatrical life.But if there is no adversity, there can be no triumph. And Smash is a triumph.Smash debuts on Thursday on HOT 3 (H3) at 10:30 p.m and 1 a.m.
A real ‘Smash’ hit
NBC’s new drama series featuring Debra Messing and Katharine McPhee examines Broadway’s travails and triumphs.
Marilyn is a new play emerging, even as the show progresses, from the pad and piano of Julia Houston (Debra Messing) and Tom Levitt (Christian Borle), longtime collaborators who love each other in the way only straight women and gay men can love in a show like this one.Although Julia has promised her (loving, dull) husband Frank (Brian d’Arcy James) that she is going to take time off from being part of “Broadway’s hottest team” to adopt a baby daughter, the mere mention of Monroe as a musical subject is far too tantalizing. Before you can say “Joltin’ Joe,” she and Tom are cranking out a number and catching the attention of Big Time Producer Eileen (Anjelica Huston). Whose ugly divorce proceedings have frozen all her assets including, wouldn’t you know it, a new production of My Fair Lady.Which frees up the lascivious but super-talented director Derek Wills (Jack Davenport). Whom Eileen snags and offers to Julia and Tom, waving away their but-we-only-have-onenumber bewilderment even as she pencils in the out-of-town opening.It’s all totally absurd, of course, but in a breathlessly wide-eyed and knowing way that is terrific fun to watch. And for every bit of bizarre business (are Julia and Frank the only people on the planet who do not know it takes a long time to adopt a baby from China?), there are seven or eight real-life details (“We are not the chorus, we are the ensemble”) to keep things from floating too high into the rafters.The return of Messing to network television doesn’t hurt, either.Swathed in Creative Type scarves, colorful Tina-Fey specs and that signature hair, her Julia is both endearing and irritating. As are most of the characters, each a promising balance of one thing and another – in early episodes, Hilty’s Ivy especially vacillates between ego and insecurity in a most convincing and moving way.Not that Smash is to be confused with a moody character study or a biting backstage satire. This is one big unapologetic feather-headress-waving, sequined derriere-twitching, high-note-holding love song to the siren call of song, dance and the theatrical life.But if there is no adversity, there can be no triumph. And Smash is a triumph.Smash debuts on Thursday on HOT 3 (H3) at 10:30 p.m and 1 a.m.