Review: World Premiere of Mambo Italiano at WBT

Growing up in a big Italian family, I entered the Westchester Broadway Theatre with high hopes for a fun night of nostalgic laughter. Out the hard working cast, Natalie Gallo portraying Donna Lunetti. She truly embraced being Italian with a spot-on accent, attitude, and appeal. Her musical number, “The Lunetti Code” was the highlight of the evening.

Westchester Broadway Theatre has the honor of presenting the World Premiere of this Pre-Broadway New Musical. Unfortunately, the show itself still needs a lot of work before it heads to the Great White Way. For example, “The Dream” was too reminiscent of "Tevye's Dream" from “Fiddler on the Roof” to stand on its own.

The climax at the end of Act I – which I won’t give away – took some of the audience by surprise and was the strongest point in the production until some throw away line about hair at the end which I think should be tossed. 

“Mambo Italiano” is based on both the 2003 Canadian comedy-drama film and screenplay written by Émile Gaudreault and Steve Galluccio and Galluccio's theatrical play by the same name. Both the play and the film are based on Galluccio's own life and experiences.

The production stars Joy Hermalyn as the Matriarch, Maria Barbieri, Bill Nolte as Gino Barbieri. The grandkids are played by Alex Drost (Angelo Barbieri), and Alexandra Amadeo Frost (Anna Barbieri), Diana DiMarzio (as Lina Paventi), Natalie Gallo (as Donna Lunetti), Zach Schanne (as Nino Paventi). With:  Alexandra Adinah, Aaron Patrick Craven, A.J. Hunsucker, Stuart Marland, Corey Masklee, Laura Stracko, Mackenqie Rogers, Halle Mastroberardino.

Directed and Choreographed by Tom Polum, The Associate Director/Musical staging is Jill Gorrie, Technical Direction by Steve Loftus, Lighting Design byAndrew Gmoser, Sound Design by Mark Zuckerman. Costume Design by Keith Nielsen. Wig design by Gerard Kelly, The Production Stage Manager is Victor Lukas, and Lisa Tiso is the Associate Producer.

The Westchester Broadway Theatre is always a fun night out. Enjoy a nice meal and a taste of Italy, and of course, Mangia, Mangia!

Westchester Broadway Theatre

Presents The World Premiere

MAMBO ITALIANO

Based on the play and screenplay by Steve Galluccio & Emile Gaudreault

Book by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum

Lyrics by Omri Schein

Music by James Olmstead

Directed & Choreographed by Tom Polum

August 8 - September 29, 2019

Reservations: Call (914) 592-2222.  Visit: www.BroadwayTheatre.com

 

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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