Go-Go’s musical Head Over Heels misses the beat
Edited by Jessica Vaden
San Francisco got a peek at the new musical Head Over Heels before it heads to Broadway; it features hits from the iconic ’80s new wave band the Go-Go’s, known for their fun, cheeky songs. But underneath the funky stockings and pop sensibilities is a groundbreaking band led by five women, who ventured into what turned into the boys’ club of the late ’70s Los Angeles punk scene, playing legendary venues such as Whiskey a Go Go and The Masque. They wrote fierce lyrics, jammed with the rockers, made their way onto MTV, and paved the way for an entire generation of women who play.
That might be the story we want to hear, walking down the halls of Canterbury, and over late night milkshakes at Denny’s: defiance in the face of adversity and a contemporary Valley Girls of what really happens when five women leave the San Fernando Valley for Sunset Blvd.
The story we get is a 16th century romance based on Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. With a few minor alterations, Arcadia is contemporized, yet stays within its historical context. The songs actually fit in quite nicely— with all lyrics intact. It’s a creative take, and one that’s usually entertaining, something a bit like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo+Juliet, so what’s missing?
The talent is surely there, with shining performances from both the cast and ensemble. And there’s no shortage of talent behind the scenes as well; the show was conceived by Jeff Whitty of Avenue Q fame and adapted by James Magruder. Tony Award winning Michael Mayer of Spring Awakening directs, with absolutely stunning choreography by Spencer Liff. Liff is a mainstay on So You Think You Can Dance and did the choreography for recent Broadway hit Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which starred Neil Patrick Harris in the titular role.
Starting off strong with a rendition of “We Got the Beat,” we learn that Arcadia might possibly lose its beat- gasp. Therefore ruler of Arcadia, Basilius, played by Jeremy Kushnier, must visit the Oracle, where Phythio gives him the bleak news: his daughters (Bonnie Milligan as Pamela; Alexandra Socha as Philoclea) will fall in love with undesirable suitors, his marriage (Rachel York as Gynecia) will end in adultery, and, lastly, he will lose his crown. Phythio is played with tremendous energy by Peppermint, who is making history becoming the first woman who is trans to originate a principal role on Broadway.
And that’s where we go off, sitting through an awful joke on her character’s gender. A joke that is not let go, every time she appears on screen, someone begs to ask, man or woman? She claps back, I prefer “they” but it comes across as a show trying too hard to be “progressive” and “edgy” than genuine. A genuine story would be one where the story is told without shining a bright glaring light at the subject. We are past the age of gasping every time a non-heteronormative character is introduced. This is not the Go-Go’s 1979, this is 2018. How refreshing would it have been for Mopsa (Taylor Iman Jones) and Pamela to explore their romance in the same capacity as Mucidorus (Andrew Durand) and Philoclea? Or for Phythio to make her big reveal without having to explain over and over again her preferred pronouns, not to different people, but to the same people. Maybe that’s where the reality lies; it is 2018, and a woman who is trans must still explain her preferences to the same cis-het white men, over and over again. So then perhaps the show is not that far off from the truth.
Regardless, it’s nice to try, but much like the eager audience members, Head Over Heels pushes a little too fast to get to their seats. In a rush to get first place at the woke awards, the show fails to let us linger on its more authentic moments. It makes it so the best moments really come from the music, but in that case, one is better off saving to see the Go-Go’s at the Fox Theater on June 28.
For those who are curious, or extremely huge fans of the music, this preview will run at the Curran Theatre now through May 6 before heading out to New York for its premiere on June 23 at the Hudson Theatre.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://sfcurran.com/head-over-heels or http://headoverheelsthemusical.com
