by Christine Cortes, Courier Entertainment Editor
There are quite a few stories about people who commit criminal acts (like hacking computers, not anything too intense!), that lead to career opportunities in the future. Frank Abagnale, Jr. was a conman in the 1960s that assumed many identities and escaped police custody multiple times. He did serve his time, a good four out of the twelve years he was sentenced, but eventually he started working with the federal government.
Abagnale’s story is so intriguing that it produced a lot of media based on it. His autobiography, Catch Me If You Can, spawned a film and a Broadway musical of the same name. Leonardo Dicaprio received great reviews for his portrayal of the conman in the film, and while the musical version was hidden in the shadows of The Book of Mormon from the critics, fans absolutely loved Aaron Tveit as Abagnale. “Live in Living Color” opens the show and sets us up for the very bubbly songs that fill the musical. The score, probably because of the time period, is reminiscent of the musical Hairspray’s score.
The typical song about finding one’s self seems like it should have been “Someone Else’s Skin”, but it’s slightly different because it actually speaks of running away and impersonating others.
“Butter Outta Cream” is an adorable duet between Abagnale Sr. and Jr. that is about making the best out of the worst situation. It manages to maintain the sweet quality of the melody despite the lyrics telling the stories of mice and cockroaches.
Every girl wants a guy to tell her how amazing she is, so “Seven Wonders” would probably a great choice if a guy out there needs some help. It’s really cheesy, but Tveits’s voice can melt even the coldest heart. Heart-melting but corny.
With a bit of hunting, recordings of Tveit’s final performance of the song “Goodbye” can be found online, and it’s an amazing performance. It’s about Abagnale leaving behind the life of an impostor and trying to pursue a normal life where he’s not constantly on stage.
Catch Me If You Can is on tour this year in the US, hopefully it will pass by a close location. The musical is gaining a lot of popularity due to Tveit’s recent role in the film version of Les Misérables and a Korean version starring popular singers from the groups SHINee, Super Junior, and SNSD. The official cast recording can be found on online music distributors like iTunes and Amazon.
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