I Have Treasured Our Life Together

The Notebook – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

Nicholas Sparks is a name known to readers the world over. He’s written and published 22 novels, to date, many of which became New York Times bestsellers, and eleven have been turned into successful movies. They include such familiar titles as Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember and his latest book, The Return. The Notebook, Sparks’ first novel, was published in 1996, and was turned into a blockbuster cult film in 2004. Now this beloved sentimental story has been adapted into a gorgeous theatrical event. The musical features a book by Bekah Brunstetter, with music & lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson. It’s a beautiful new version of Sparks’ novel that is faithful to his novel and brings his name and talent to a whole new generation. And this magnificent musical drama is currently having its pre-Broadway debut, right here in Chicago.

Ms Brunstetter’s adaptation and Ms Michaelson’s lovely score, is, like the romantic novel, a touching, heartbreaking love story. While dramatic and often poignant, there are many moments of humor and pure joy that help balance the story. The play begins in a present day senior residents’ home, where an elderly man named Noah Calhoun is helping the nursing staff care for another patient named Allie. He spends hours just reading to her from a notebook, which has a strangely calming effect. Although Allie is actually the author of the journal, she thinks the memoir is a piece of romantic fiction, and doesn’t recognize that she’s the central character in it. Allie is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and Noah is revealed to be her loving, caring husband of many years, although his wife doesn’t remember him. As he reads from the notebook, the years melt away, time becomes fluid and the romance that blossomed between Allie and Noah, so many years ago plays out before our eyes.

This Broadway-bound production features a New York company of technical artistry. This exquisite, elegant show is co-directed with care and compassion by Broadway’s Michael Greif (“Rent,” “Dear Evan Hanson,” “Next to Normal”) and Schele Williams (the revival of “Aida,” the upcoming revival of “The Wiz”). Musical direction, and conductor/keyboardist of the musical’s 11-member orchestra, is by Geoggrey Ko (Broadway’s “Be More Chill”). The production features an impressive, mobile scenic design by David Zinn (represented in Chicago at Steppenwolf with, among others, the impressive set for “Airline Highway” and, currently on Broadway, with “Funny Girl”) and Brett Banakis (“The Cher Show” and “The Devil Wears Prada”). It’s sumptuously lit with style and sentiment by Ben Stanton (whose lighting design for the Goodman’s recent “Goodnight Oscar” will soon appear on Broadway). Paloma Young (Broadway’s “Peter and Starcatcher,” “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812”) further defines the characters in this play with her realistic costumes, enhanced by Mia Neal’s hair & wig designs.

The cast is as polished and professional as you’d expect from a Broadway production. The two main characters are each played by three different actors, representing Allie and Noah at various ages. Maryann Plunkett, the veteran of so many Broadway shows, including a Tony Award-winning performance in the 1986 revival of “Me and My Girl,” captivates with her emotionally raw portrayal of Older Allie. The younger incarnations of Allie are played with power and passion by the gifted Jordan Tyson, as Younger Allie, and the talented Joy Woods, as Middle Allie. These three women are incredibly accomplished and likable and brilliantly bring power and beauty to the various stages of Allie’s life.

On opening night, Jerome Harmann Hardeman took over the leading role of Older Noah from John Beasley, and made this character all his own. He is magnificent and plays this role with so much compassion and love that he’s totally believable. Equally adept in their portrayals are John Cardoza, who is so winning and wonderful as Younger Noah, and Ryan Vasquez, a young actor with so much fire and fervor in is character as Middle Noah. All three actors have the most incredibly rich and full voices that caress every one with their solos and duets.

Supporting roles are played by seven-member ensemble. They include Chicago’s own Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, as Allie’s Father, and Liam Oh, who’s so charming and winning as Noah’s enthusiastic physical therapist and friend, Justin. The magnificent Andrea Burns, who lit up the CST stage as Dot in “Sunday in the Park with George” and delighted Broadway audiences as Daniela from “In the Heights,” is excellent as both hard-nosed Nurse Lori and Allie’s blue-blood Mother. Other superb ensemble members are Yassmin Alers as Nurse Joanna, Dorcas Leung as Georgie, Sophie Madorsky as Sarah and Omar Lopez-Cepero as Lon.

The score of this show is gorgeous and worthy of a cast album. The company fills the Yard Theatre with their beautifully trained voices in “Time,” the play’s apropos opening number. Younger Allie and Noah charm with “Carry You Home;” Middle Noah makes us tear up with “Leave the Light On;” Middle and Younger Allie generate nostalgia with their duet, “I Wanna Go Back.” Later in the show, Middle Allie reprises her Act I number, “Sadness and Joy,” while her 11th hour number, “My Days” reduces the audience to a blubbering mess. But it’s when Older Allie and Noah, joined by the entire talented ensemble, sing the bittersweet closing number, “I Know” and “Coda” that we bring out our handkerchiefs and share the beauty, grief and love with these characters that they’ve experienced during a turbulent lifetime.

Noah opens his heart and bares his soul when he confides to Older Allie, “You’re my best friend, as well as my lover. I treasure each side of you, just as I have treasured our life together.” And in the final moments of this remarkably moving and memorable musical play, inspired by the lives of Sparks’ wife’s grandparents, that we all find ourselves in Noah and Allie. This is a stunning production of an emotionally sublime love story that speaks to everyone—all ages, genders and social classes. It’s a show that absolutely should not be missed.          

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 6-October 30 by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in the Yard Theatre, 800 E. Grand Avenue on Navy Pier, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the CST box office, by calling 312.595.5600 or by going to www.chicagoshakes.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.