Podcast Summary: Floyd Collins Review by MickeyJoTheatre
Podcast Information:
- Title: MickeyJoTheatre
- Host/Author: MickeyJoTheatre (Miki Jo)
- Episode: Floyd Collins starring Jeremy Jordan (Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center, Broadway) - ★★ REVIEW
- Release Date: June 19, 2025
1. Introduction and Context
Miki Jo, the passionate host of MickeyJoTheatre, delves into the world of Broadway to review the latest production of Floyd Collins at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center. With a dedicated following of over 60,000 subscribers on YouTube, Miki Jo offers insightful critiques of contemporary and classic theatre productions.
"Man goes into Cave. Man gets trapped in cave. Musical about man in cave. What is it like? How is Jeremy Jordan as the man in the cave?"
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2. Production Background
Floyd Collins is presented as a revival, despite its Broadway premiere occurring decades after its Off-Broadway debut in the 1990s. Directed by original director Tina Landau and co-written with composer Adam Gettel, the production holds a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical.
Miki Jo highlights the challenges faced by Floyd Collins in distinguishing itself in a saturated Broadway season, especially competing against heavyweight revivals like Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy.
"This was my first experience of the material, despite the fact that it's quite revered in musical theatre circles."
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3. Themes and Storyline
The musical chronicles the true story of Floyd Collins, an explorer trapped in Sand Cave, Kentucky. Over 14 harrowing days, Floyd grapples with isolation, while a media frenzy unfolds above ground—often described as one of America's first "viral" events.
Miki Jo appreciates the show's focus on Floyd's predicament and the accompanying media circus but criticizes the limited exploration of Floyd's personal life and the deeper societal implications of the event.
"What the musical actually depicts is a real set of circumstances...a great explorer who found himself trapped in a cave."
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4. Musical Score
Composer Adam Gettel's score is a standout element, characterized by its operatic quality and rich Americana influences. The music seamlessly blends intricate melodies with poignant lyrics, capturing Floyd's aspirations and the gravity of his situation.
Notable songs like "Heart and Hand" showcase the emotional depth and complexity of the score. However, Miki Jo feels that the music sometimes lacks traditional song structures, making it more operatic and less accessible.
"There's a real poetry to many of the lyrics. There's a very haunting quality to a lot of the music as well."
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Despite her admiration for Gettel's composition, Miki Jo questions the musical's ability to fully convey its themes to the audience, suggesting that deeper engagement with the material could enhance its impact.
"I am questioning what Floyd Collins as a musical really has to say to audiences."
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5. Direction and Set Design
Directed by Tina Landau, Floyd Collins aims to create an intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere befitting the story's setting. The Lincoln Center Theatre's spacious layout, however, presents challenges in achieving this desired intimacy. Miki Jo criticizes the decision to stage the musical in a large, open space, which she feels dilutes the tension and immediacy of Floyd's entrapment.
The minimalist set, featuring a blank rear wall with dynamic lighting transitions, attempts to evoke the cave environment. While certain sequences, like Floyd's yodeling and movement on the stage, are praised for their charm and wistfulness, the overall staging is seen as lacking the necessary intensity.
"There is a necessary claustrophobic quality to a show like Floyd Collins...but Lincoln Center is one of the more open spaces."
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Lighting design by Scott Zelinsky receives commendation for effectively portraying the cave's darkness and the evolving moods of the production. However, the set's inability to fully immerse the audience in Floyd's confined space is a significant drawback.
"I loved a lot of the lighting choices made throughout the show."
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6. Performances
Jeremy Jordan as Floyd Collins:
Jeremy Jordan delivers a vocally impressive performance, handling the complex score with ease. His portrayal captures Floyd's initial optimism and charm, especially through moments of humor and light-heartedness.
"I thought where he excelled the furthest was in his vocal performance."
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However, Miki Jo feels that Jordan's character lacks the necessary depth and darkness as Floyd's predicament becomes increasingly dire. The actor's youthful energy and comedic timing prevent the full immersion into Floyd's despair.
"We never really sink all the way into his sorrows."
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Taylor Trench as Skeets Miller:
Taylor Trench shines in his role as Skeets Miller, the journalist covering Floyd's entrapment. Despite minimal singing, Trench delivers a multi-layered performance infused with guilt and determination, effectively conveying Skeets' emotional turmoil.
"Taylor Trench barely sings a note in this show, but he gives us a really intriguing, multi-layered performance."
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His portrayal earns a Tony nomination, underscoring his impactful contribution to the production.
Jason Gotay as Homer:
Jason Gotay embodies Homer, Floyd's younger brother, with charisma and vocal prowess. His performance adds a dynamic layer to the narrative, highlighting Homer's ambition and the complexities of sibling relationships.
"Jason Gotay...ticks those boxes."
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Lizzie McAlpine as Floyd's Sister:
Lizzie McAlpine makes her Broadway debut as Floyd's sister, delivering a unique vocal performance. However, Miki Jo critiques the character's lack of depth, feeling that McAlpine's portrayal doesn't fully explore the emotional nuances required for her role.
"She remains eerily calm throughout all of this, but feels deeply connected to Floyd."
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Supporting Cast:
Veteran performers Jessica Malaski, Mark Kudish, Wade McCollum, and Sean Alan Krill provide strong supporting roles, enhancing the overall narrative without overshadowing the leads.
7. Final Thoughts and Conclusions
Miki Jo concludes her review with a mixed assessment of Floyd Collins. While praising the musical's score, lighting design, and standout performances by Jeremy Jordan and Taylor Trench, she criticizes the production's inability to fully capture the story's emotional depth and the limitations imposed by the Lincoln Center Theatre's expansive space.
She suggests that a more intimate setting might better serve the narrative, allowing for a more intense and claustrophobic portrayal of Floyd's entrapment. Despite her reservations, Miki Jo recommends the show for its unique storytelling and musical achievements, especially for those who have been anticipating its Broadway debut.
"Critically, the claustrophobia of it. We need to feel that smallness. We need to feel the closeness of that space."
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Miki Jo encourages listeners to experience the limited-run production at Lincoln Center before its closing and invites them to share their thoughts on the show.
"If you haven't yet seen Floyd Collins, then you better get yourself to Lincoln Center Theater...the run is ending this month."
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Key Takeaways:
- Floyd Collins offers a haunting retelling of a historical event through a rich musical score.
- Jeremy Jordan and Taylor Trench deliver compelling performances, though character depth varies.
- The Lincoln Center Theatre's spacious setting may not fully capture the intended intimate and claustrophobic atmosphere.
- The production excels in its musical and lighting design but falls short in emotional and narrative engagement for some characters.
Notable Quotes:
- "Laughing is not a response to good yodeling. If it was good, you'd have been like, wow, what good yodeling. Yo yo, yo."
[00:00] - "I wish that it really waded in further to a conversation about the morbidity of it all and the fame that he found."
[00:00] - "I think there's a really great production of this to be staged somewhere...somewhere where you can conjure the horror of it and the intensity of it."
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Connect with MickeyJoTheatre: For more in-depth theatre reviews, features, news, and interviews, subscribe to Miki Jo's YouTube Channel and follow on your preferred podcast platform.