I remember watching Tom Wopat on Broadway back in 1999 give a hoot of a performance when he played Frank Butler in “Annie Get Your Gun,” which earned him a Tony nomination.
Wopat is playing another wry and charming Frank in the new musical “Catch Me If You Can.” Watching him during opening night at the 5th Avenue Theatre, it’s clear the years haven’t slowed him down.
Wopat could cleanly dance all the moves. His voice easily hit the high notes (all that practice with his jazz trio paying off), and he found and held that one low note in the song “Butter Outta Cream” so that it flowed out smooth like butta.
The aging Dukes of Hazzard star was absolutely athletic and gave this young cast a run for their money in the high-energy and fast-paced “Catch Me If You Can,” a show that grabbed me by the collar at the start with a chase scene and never let go. The whole tone and mood of the show was one of brilliant momentum. “Catch Me” is invigorating entertainment that left me with an endorphin rush as if I’d just finished a good run.
And speaking of movement, it seemed everything moved or gave the impression of movement. The constantly changing set opened and closed in wildly various geometrically shaped configurations (scenic design by David Rockwell). The orchestra helped create the center stage backdrop, piled atop a structure that, to me, looked like a giant shoe.
The entire cast was fluid throughout this show, and not just during the dance numbers (choreography by Jerry Mitchell), but all the time, swaying or wriggling or shimmying. No one really just stood still for very long.
One of the most fluid among them was lead Aaron Tveit, who was downright rubbery as Frank Abagnale Jr. (Wopat plays his dad, Frank Sr.), in an adorable way that was reminiscent of a young Jim Carey. Tveit was in fact adorable. Sexy and smart yet vulnerable. He was a superfecta leading man with a knockout voice and the precocious kind of charm one would expect from a successful swindler.
“Catch Me” is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who successfully posed and worked as a doctor, lawyer and Pan Am pilot all before he turned 21. This check-forging kid netted more than $2 million before he was caught by Carl Hanratty, a middle-aged FBI agent whose soul came alive during this intense battle of wills.
Norbert Leo Butz captured Hanratty in a performance that was inspired.
“Catch Me” is a new musical based on the DreamWorks film and delivered from the talented team behind the musical “Hairspray,” including five-time Tony Award winning director Jack O’Brien and the Tony Award-winning composing team of Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics).
The flawless score was steeped in jazzy, ’60s jet-set songs, one great number after another including a stunning solo by Kerry Butler, who played the con’s love interest, Brenda, singing the soulful “Fly, Fly Away.” The money song, “Butter Outa Cream,” is still pleasantly looping through my head.
“Catch Me If You Can” makes a fast run here, playing for a limited three-week engagement. You should act quickly and definitely catch it.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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