“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is an absolutely amazing musical comedy,” freshman Nicole Finocchio said. And she’s right.
The story of a young window-washer trying to make it big in the business world by following the advice of a book returned to Broadway in 2011.
It is an energetic musical that transports you back to the office environment of the 1960s.
Daniel Radcliffe, Darren Criss, and Nick Jonas have played the role of J. Pierrepont Finch, the window-washer, while John Larroquette and Beau Bridges have played J. B. Biggley, the president of the World Wide Wicket Company.
Nicole was lucky enough to see this revival two times with the duos of Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette and Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges playing the lead roles.
Nicole, a die-hard Harry Potter fan, went to see the show in the fifth month of Daniel Radcliffe’s run.
“His acting and dancing were phenomenal.” she said.
Having seen the performance with both Radcliffe and Jonas, Finocchio thought that Radcliffe played the role better than Nick Jonas. During Jonas’ performance, the music was slower and his dancing was not as confident as Radcliffe’s.
Nicole did say, however, that Jonas gave a strong singing performance. As she saw him perform in only his fourth show, she believes that if she were to see the show again in a few months, Jonas would perform just as well as Radcliffe, or maybe even better. Nicole also thought that John Larroquette’s comedic timing made several of the scenes, especially the “Grand Old Ivy” scene.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is an upbeat musical with energetic dance numbers; the “Brotherhood of Man” number is a highlight of the show.
It’s a fun show and Nick Jonas lovers will not be disappointed to see him take on a new kind of role. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is playing at the Al Hirschfield Theatre; don’t wait, go see it soon.