Catch This Show If You Can

Catch Me If You Can

Highly Recommended

If looking for a joyous night out, consider catching Catch Me If You Can now on stage at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Opened at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre in April 2011, that production garnered four Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical.

It works well for Marriott’s Theatre in the Round. Directed by Jessica Fisch with fun choreographed numbers by Deidred Goodwin, the show captures the youthful exuberance of Frank Abikgnale Jr. as he first takes on an airplane pilots’ mantle and then switches to the role of a pediatrician.

Basically, the plot of the musical,”Catch Me If You Can,” follows the supposedly close to true exploits of Frank Abignale Jr. depicted in the play of the same name based on his autobiography.

Frank Junior, brilliantly played by JJ Niemann, admires his con artist father,  Frank Sr., expertly done by Marriott veteran Sean Fortunato. Junior leaves home after learning his mother, Paula, has become overly fond of his dad’s friend, Jack Barnes. You get to know Paula, played by Jessie Fisher in Act II.

Much of the first act includes Frank Junior as a Pan  Am pilot and the initial efforts of an FBI team headed by Carl Hanratty (Nathaniel Stampley) to trace him

In Act II Frank Junior decides to switch professions as he takes on the role of pediatrician Dr. Frank Conners.

He meets and falls in love with nurse Brenda (Mariah Lyttle) who brings him home to meet the folks.  Lyttle’s number “Fly fly Away” definitely is worth staying for Act II.

By the time Carl catches Frank Junior, you are on the side of this misguided, talented young man.

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