If you are following me on social media you know not only am I huge fan of musicals but since I got vaccinated I have had a goal to support local musical theater as much as possible. I currently have seen 18 shows since April including everything from The Music Man to Next to Normal and loved all of them. (Here is my ranking of my first 10 shows)
Evidently I’m not the only one who has been on a musical kick in 2021 because movies and series have embraced them to an unusual degree. In fact, I have deemed 2021 as ‘The Year of Musicals’. The latest entry is from director Barry Sonnenfeld and can be streamed on Apple Plus: it is an enchanting and hilarious parody series called Schmigadoon!.
The first 2 episodes lands today but I have been able to watch the entire first season. It tells the story of a couple Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) who in a weak spot in their relationship stumble upon the magical town of Schmigadoon.
The name of the town and show is an obvious homage to Brigadoon (which I have always felt is a very underrated classic musical!). But the series takes shots at many musicals with everything from Carousel, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The Music Man and even La La Land. Sometimes the jokes are a little on-the-nose but I was consistently laughing throughout.
Naturally the traditional values of classic musicals get a brunt of the jokes with Alan Cumming being particularly funny as the closeted mayor Aloysius Menlove. Fred Armisen plays the town reverend and gets a lot of laughs while Strong’s doctor bristles up against the traditional Doc Lopez played by Jaime Camil.
The rest of the cast is loaded with Broadway’s best including Kristen Chenoweth, Jane Krakowski, Aaron Tveit (so great!), Dove Cameron and more. I’m not sure how they are going to continue this concept into a second season but the cast is having a blast and their joy is contagious.
The original music is written by Cinco Paul who mainly has an animation background. The songs are a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed every time Key tried to avoid bursting into song. Another highlight is a The Music Man inspired number (especially ‘Trouble’ ) sung by Chenoweth about the danger these big city folks are to Schmigadoon. Whenever Tveit sings it is also perfection! I love his voice so much.
I don’t think Schmigadoon! will appeal much to non-musical fans but I don’t think it has to. It’s made for those of us that love the genre and will both appreciate the jokes and the actual musical numbers. It both laughs at and embraces musicals at the same time.
All I know is Schmigadoon! won over this musical-lover’s heart. Delightful.
8 out of 10
