Fun Home isn’t your typical sing and dance musical. Instead, it’s more intimate, emotional, and styled like a Steppenwolf play. Specifically, it shares a lot in common with Mary Page Marlowe. Both shows have multiple actresses playing the same character at different times in her life. Both jump around in time, both forwards and backwards. Lastly, both are extremely well written and executed.

In Fun Home, which is short for funeral home, the children perform an imaginary advertisement for the funeral home run by their parents called Come to the Fun Home. The choreography is so fun and hilarious. It shows off the talents perfectly of the child actors in the show. Everyone had a smile on their face after this funky jam.

Another amazing song is Changing My Major, which Allison sings about being excited and joyful after having sex with her first girlfiend, Joan. It’s such a fun song about teenage love and self-discovery. It showcases the singing and comedic talent of the actress playing college-aged Alison, Z Mowry.

For the best song of the show, the youngest Alison (Meena Sood on this night) notices a butch delivery woman and feels an inexplicable kinship with her (Ring of Keys). The song sends shivers through the audience as she begins to discover herself in this woman. Also, the song sounds beautiful as it bursts with joy.

There are only three small changes this play could use. Firstly, Lincoln J. Skoien, who plays many different characters, should have more distinct costumes so the audience isn’t confused about who he is playing. Secondly, the fact that Allison’s dad dies, which is revealed very early in the play, should not be stated. It would make for such a big climax to only discover this at the end. It would also make Patrick Byrnes’ performance, which is excellently nuanced, even more powerful. Lastly, at 100 minutes, it is quite long to not have an intermission. Join the Pro-Intermission movement here.

Compared to the Broadway version that toured Chicago in 2016, this production is far more intimate and funny, which is perfect for this play. 

Cost of a ticket: $86.50

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Catch Fun Home, the winner of five 2015 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, now through March 2nd!

Quinn Delaney