The Notebook – The Musical – A Tender Story of Love and Loss at the National Theatre
Readers and filmgoers of Nicholas Sparks’ romance novel turned movie turned musical were out in force for opening night of The Notebook – The Musical. For a book that came out in 1996 and soared to the New York Times ‘Bestseller List’, the story of an aging couple housed in an American nursing home has enjoyed 30 years of dedicated fans.
Its story is a tender journey encompassing three generations of a single family who navigated the shifting sands of enduring relationships amid familial strife through patience, hope and the power of love.
Unfolding through the eyes of Older Noah whose wife Allie has degenerative dementia and believes him to be a “friend”, we see them first as teens exploring a summer romance. Her parents disapprove of Young Noah, a cheerfully witty high school dropout with hazy plans for the future, while Young Allie hails from a prominent family and is bound for college after this seaside summer holiday. Nonetheless, like Romeo and Juliet, their secret romance flourishes fueled by dreams to be together forever and live in an old house he plans to restore for her. When Noah goes off to war, they lose touch until Allie discovers him living alone in the house he restored and they rekindle what was lost.
The device that stitches the story together is a notebook, really a diary, written by Allie throughout her life before her memory loss and which her husband tenderly reads to her each day hoping to jog her memory and recognize him as her husband. It’s a heart-wrenching story for those with loved ones suffering this incurable disease, but Sparks gives it compassion, vision and hope, plus a happy ending, at least as happy as anyone could hope for.
Moments of joy and humor buoy grief and hopelessness, but the reality of care homes and the cycle of love and loss color the helplessness of those who do the caring. Twenty-two musical numbers backed by an eight-piece orchestra lift this emotionally charged musical.
With Beau Gravitte as Older Noah; Ken Wulf Clark as Middle Noah; Kyle Mangold as younger Noah; Yassmin Alers as Older Allie; Alysha Deslorieux as Middle Allie; Makena Jackson as Younger Allie; Anne Tolpegin as Mother/Nurse Lori; Connor Richardson as Johnny; Jesse Corbin as Lon/others; Jerome Harmann-Hardeman as Father/Son/others; Rayna Hickman as Nurse Joanna/others; Leonay Reina as Sarah/Granddaughter/others; Jordi Bertrán Ramírez as Fin/Grandson/others; Grace Ohwensadeyo Rundberg as Georgie/Concierge/others.
Directed by Michael Greif & Schele Williams; Choreography by Katie Spelman; Music and Lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson; Book by Bekah Brunstetter; Scenic Design by David Zinn & Brett J. Banakis; Costume Design by Paloma Young; Lighting Design by Ben Stanton; Sound Design Nevin Steinberg; Music Supervision & Arrangements by Carmel Dean.
Through August 30th at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.628.6161 or visit www.BroadwayattheNational.com.
