Susan Granger’s review of “Leap of Faith” (St. James Theater: 2011-2012 season)
There’s a reason why this screen-to-stage adaptation was – financially – the biggest flop of Broadway’s 2011-2012 season with losses estimated at more than $14 million. Quite simply, the redemptive musical about a con-man evangelist who experiences a spiritual conversion was wretched, despite an experienced creative team that included composer Alan Menken, lyricist Glenn Slater, book writers James Cercone and Warren Leight, director Christopher Ashley, set designer Robin Wagner and choreographer Sergio Trujillo.
Clad in sparkly suits, Raul Esparza (“Company,” “Arcadia”) takes on the role of faith healer Jonas Nightingale, which genial Steve Martin played in the 1992 movie. After their bus breaks down in Sweetwater, a small town in Kansas, Nightingale and his troupe pitch their revival tent and are soon fleecing the flock with the help of Nightingale’s sister, Sam (Kendra Kassebaum) who secretly feeds info to the preacher. The local sheriff, Maria McGowan (Jessica Phillips), has their number but she’s also a lonely widow with a brave, disabled son, 13 year-old Jake (Talon Ackerman), and obviously smitten with this sinister new man in town. Besides, there’s this severe draught and maybe, just maybe, if he’s not a complete charlatan, Nightingale could conjure down some rain.
While Esparza exudes energy, it’s been a rough road to get to Broadway and many elements were lost along the way, including pacing and the kind of essential coherence that distinguished other charismatic con-man tales like “The Rainmaker,” “The Music Man” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” among others. The original director never got beyond the Los Angeles tryout, nor did the original female star, Brooke Shields. The collaborative duo of Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. who wrote the music for “Sister Act,” contribute oddly similar numbers for this show, which begs for some originality, particularly for the backup gospel choir called the Angels of Mercy, led by Ida Mae Sturdevant (Kecia Lewis-Evans).
Closing almost as soon as it opened, “Leap of Faith” concludes this musical season on Broadway. Praise the Lord – and Amen!