Escape into Excess: How ‘Smash’ Became Our Guilty Pleasure

The world has been a chaotic place lately, with endless headlines and doomscrolling dominating our lives. It’s time for a respite from reality, and that’s exactly what ‘‘Smash’ delivers – a delicious dose of escapist fluff that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

The Making of a Musical: A Story Within a Show

‘Smash’ is loosely adapted from the short-lived NBC series, but this musical comedy takes center stage with its phenomenal cast and dazzling direction by Susan Stroman. The show revolves around the making of a musical about Marilyn Monroe, titled ‘Bombshell,‘ which serves as a clever backdrop for the story. “The show’s about the making of the show,” said one of the creators. ‘It’s like a show within a show.’

The disaster waiting to happen is indeed ‘Bombshell,‘ a glitzy biomusical that delves into the world of rehearsal studios, where artists sweat to get ready for tech and previews. The cast, including Robyn Hurder as beloved star Ivy Lynn, Caroline Bowman as Karen, and Brooks Ashmanskas as director Nigel, brings to life a world of greasepaint pros, wisecracking directors, and imperious producers.

A Delightful Premise with Comic Performances

At first glance, the premise of ‘Smash’ may seem silly – a show-within-a-show about making a musical about Marilyn Monroe. However, this is where the magic lies. The writers have cleverly woven in diegesis, where music happens within the reality of the scene, not imposed as a formal break. “It’s like the music is happening organically,” said one of the creators.

This results in nearly all the musical numbers being justified as glimpses into rehearsals and previews.

The cast delivers first-rate comic performances, with showstopping songs that hold up remarkably well. Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman’s score is full of double-entendre-stuffed baseball romps, bluesy laments, and Kander-and-Ebbish-esque odysseys to sin. The writers deserve special praise for the clever and consistent use of diegesis.

A Phenomenal Cast and Dazzling Staging

For all its showbiz shine and genuine laughs, ‘Smash’ has its flaws. The plot engine is paper thin, and Ivy and Karen’s conflict gets too blithely resolved. However, this is more than made up for by the phenomenal cast and Susan Stroman’s dazzling, fluid staging in years. Joshua Bergasse’s frisky, high-kicking choreography adds to the show’s energy, while Robyn Hurder finally gets the starring role she was born to sing, dance, and act.

A Must-See for Broadway Geeks

‘Smash’ is a must-see for anyone who loves Broadway. With its dazzling direction, phenomenal cast, and clever use of diegesis, this musical comedy will leave you grinning from ear to ear. So, who knows? Maybe ‘Smash’ will live up to its name after all – but one thing’s for sure: it’s a delicious dose of escapism that we can all get behind.