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Review
- Jacquinn Sinclair
Billionaire Jackie Siegel has grit.
Siegel, a woman who angled to build one of the biggest homes in America modeled after the Palace of Versailles, came from humble beginnings. But, she burned with the desire to be and to have much more. And she wouldn’t stop until she achieved her goal, no matter the obstacles in her way. Siegel’s journey is detailed in the musical “The Queen of Versailles,” a lavish undertaking that’s funny, heartwarming and comes with a message for all of us trapped in and perhaps enamored by capitalism. The play, with a book by Lindsey Ferrentino and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, is based on the 2012 documentary by Lauren Greenfield of the same name.
Kristin Chenoweth, an accomplished actor and singer, portrays the ambitious Siegel in the pre-Broadway run of the show at Emerson Colonial Theatre through Aug. 25. Chenoweth delights as the relatable, unstoppable Siegel (née Mallery), who grew up in Endwell, New Jersey. The young teenager sings of having a small life with big dreams early in the production after watching Robin Leach’s “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” on the couch with her parents. In the cozy living room, depicted by a clever video positioned behind the family and timestamped “Feb. 5, 1983” in the corner like a photo, Siegel’s parents root for their daughter, who goes on to earn a degree in computer engineering.
The champagne wishes and caviar dreams referenced in Leach’s show are what Siegel seeks, but she doesn’t know how to make it happen, she sings in one number.
After working for a while and not getting as far as she hoped, she meets a man who she thinks will change her life. She quickly learns that he is not who she thought he was and leaves him after giving birth to her daughter, Victoria. Later, she meets her very rich second husband David, who makes her dreams come true.
But when it comes to being rich, many might ruminate on what there is to gain but perhaps less time is spent thinking about what there is to lose.
David, rendered by the very talented F. Murray Abraham of “Serpico” and “Scarface” fame, loses the opportunity to bond more with his kids and wife. The family doesn’t eat dinner together because he works constantly to clothe, feed and house a growing family. He does this by selling timeshares. Dubbed the “Timeshare King,” there’s an awesome companion ballad, complete with a horse and a short animated film with dancing buildings that illustrates his success. Over time, as the couple continues to build their behemoth home (which gets slowed down in part due to the economic downturn of 2008), the idea of it starts to feel hollow.
Jackie’s daughter Victoria — portrayed by the exceptionally gifted vocalist Nina White — feels it too and yearns for a simpler life. After visiting her grandparents in Endwell with her mom, the two sing a gorgeous duet about little homes with big hearts. White’s Victoria and a talented Tatum Grace Hopkins as her cousin Jonquil also sing a tune about a dead pet lizard quite beautifully.
The entire ensemble — which works with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine — was complemented by the creative team to pull off an exciting night of theater. French Revolution gear, sequined 1980s dresses and marvelously over-the-top gowns by Christian Cowan and technical costume designer Ryan Park, Dane Laffrey’s scenic and video design (especially the nighttime view of Endwell), Natasha Katz’s lighting and props by Ray Wetmore and JR Goodman all helped make the show even more spectacular.
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Directed by Michael Arden, the scenes flash back and forth between past, present and fantasy. The audience learns about Jackie’s upbringing, dogged work ethic and fascination with the décor and figures of the French Revolution era. The latter are some of the most fun. In one at the start of the show, oil paintings with ornate gold frames adorn a tall white wall reminiscent of a museum gallery or stately mansion. Cast members wearing white wigs, waistcoats or ornate gowns plump with panniers and petticoats sing operatically about the comical and pompous King Louis XIV, a memorable Pablo David Laucerica. King Louis, who commissioned the building of the Palace of Versailles, sings about doing so just because he can. Later, powerhouse vocalist Cassondra James — who has backed numerous stars such as Alicia Keyes, Ledisi and Wynton Marsalis — sings a stellar operatic duet as Marie Antoinette with Chenoweth’s Jackie. Andrew Kober, who played multiple roles, including a pageant host, was also impressive.
It’s hard to dislike the Jackie Siegel portrayed in “The Queen of Versailles,” who proclaims that only in America can you become a wife, a billionaire and a Jew all in the same day after her nuptials. Though her palace seems a little (or a lot) outrageous, it’s difficult to know what one might do if money was of no consequence. And Jackie’s lavish life is not without financial and domestic hardship. And, like most people, she has been impacted by profound loss. Are there challenging moments where she seems out of touch? Sure. But, as a billionaire building a mansion, that’s probably to be expected.
Still, it’s interesting to watch how Jackie, who started her life in a small town, tackles life’s crappy blows and fights to turn things around without missing a beat. Instead of wallowing, she continues to believe in herself and leads with her heart in her pursuit of becoming American royalty.
“The Queen of Versailles” runs through Aug. 25 at the Emerson Colonial Theatre.
