Newsies

Approximations are often hard to make, but if you had to pinpoint the moment the opening-night crowd of Disney’s Newsies at The National Theatre realized they were in for something special Tuesday, 15 minutes in — as the actors froze at the conclusion of the second song, “Carrying the Banner,” — would be a good place to look.

Sure, there were the dedicated few in the audience who screamed with joy even as the lights dimmed, but it was here, after the first real display of the show’s shining choreography, slick lyricism and overall exceptional professionalism, that just about everyone in attendance happily buckled in for what was sure to be a ton of fun.

Arriving in Washington after a Broadway run of more than 1,000 performances since 2012, Newsies is inspired by the real-life strike of New York City newsboys in 1899. A 1992 film starring Christian Bale as strike leader Jack “Cowboy” Kelly started growing a fan base that would turn into an all-out cult following the story’s success in the Big Apple 20 years later.

The story follows Jack and his fellow Newsies after Joseph Pulitzer, owner of The New York World, raises prices that makes the papers unaffordable. With the help of an ambitious young reporter, the Newsies fight to make their voices heard and earn a spot at the table. It’s a simple story of hope, one that teaches you to take control of tomorrow and not be afraid to dream in the face of destitution. Such lessons, in combination with the impeccable skill in which they are told, make Newsies a thorough crowd-pleaser.

“Everyone loves a good David and Goliath story,” said Steve Blanchard, a university alumnus who plays Pulitzer in the show. “And the choreography is just off the charts. These guys up there are all athletes. It’s just 20 athletes telling a story and it’s so beautiful.”

Blanchard grew up in the southern part of this state and was drawn to College Park by this university’s theatre program. He said his time on the campus taught him to approach his craft with a new sense of professionalism and discipline.

“I had some great, great professors there at Maryland,” he said. “I took everything I possibly could and got a sense of our art and our craft and all that goes with it. That’s the biggest thing I took away from campus and here I am 40 years later and it’s fantastic.”

In those 40 years, Blanchard has taken on many big Broadway roles, including the Beast in Beauty & the Beast, Lancelot in Camelot and Aramis in The Three Musketeers. But there’s something about playing someone like Pulitzer, someone who has his name etched in our nation’s history, that he said he particularly enjoys.

“There’s something about portraying real people who achieved so much and contributed to our world that is fascinating,” he said. “You try to fill in the blanks and make this historical person have life and have breath and have a personality and not just what we read in books.”

Blanchard did just that Tuesday night, turning in a strong and sturdy performance. He’s joined by a cast that seems to have no weaknesses — each player seemingly tries to top the other’s energy and emotion. Dan DeLuca is strong in the ambitious role of Jack and Stephanie Styles brings a lot of humor and charm as Katherine, the young journalist.

As good as the individual acting gets — and it gets impressive — this is a play about community and family, so it makes its money in the group numbers. Each song involving a large ensemble of Newsies is a sight to behold, starting with the jaw-dropping “Carrying the Banner” and ending with the undeniable earworm “Seize the Day.”

The upbeat energy of such numbers is matched by the skill and subtle beauty of songs such as “Santa Fe” and “Letter from the Refuge.” The latter will come as a surprise to fans of the movie or the Broadway show as composer Alan Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman added it before this national tour. It’s a great showcase for Zachary Sayle as Crutchie and die-hards will find it makes an unbeatable soundtrack even better.

Each rousing number was often matched by some great set work, the city backdrop becoming a key prop to stage such fluid, agile motion. Some animated projection also provided a nice creative dimension to the background, amplifying what would have otherwise been overlooked details.

It should be said: The time in which Newsies takes place wasn’t the best era for journalism. There was a lot of hyperbole, a lot of sensation and a lot outright lies cluttering the headlines. But I’d like to go back to such a time to end this review, because an over-the-top sentence seems fitting. Except, in this case, this enthusiasm is more than just a ploy to sell papers. So trust me when I say: Newsies at The National Theatre is a superb production, an absolute must-see.

Newsies will be at the The National Theatre until June 21. Tickets can be bought at thenationaldc.org.

merrigodbk@gmail.com