‘Falsettos’ at The Wayward Artist

OC Theatre Guild
Jul 17
4 min read

Love, Loss and Family in a Landmark Queer Musical

From left, Gabrielle Maldonado, Jake Burnett, Riley Blackwell, Carolyn Lupin and Joshua Leduc. Photo courtesy of Craig Tyrl

By Shannon Cudd

A homosexual man hiding his truth, a woman whose husband leaves her for another man and the lover who is diagnosed with a mysterious new disease – these are just some of the characters audiences can expect to encounter in The Wayward Artist’s production of “Falsettos.”

Founding Artistic Director and director Craig Tyrl has long wanted to tackle these complex and nuanced themes.

“I’m a child of the 80s, and I think queer stories need to be told now more than ever,” Tyrl explained. “As a person who has known the pain of divorce, of coming out of the closet, knowing people with HIV and knowing the challenges of complicated family dynamics, I want to bring those experiences to life as deeply, vulnerably and honestly as possible for others to experience.”

Telling marginalized communities’ stories is baked into the ethos of The Wayward Artist. The company has been around since 2017. This is the first season Tyrl is producing at Irvine United Congregational Church, where he also serves as pastor.

“My passion is about finding ways to bring theater and ministry together,” he mused.

Religion and identity are major themes of this musical because most of the characters are Jewish. While Tyrl is a progressive Christian, he made sure to honor this part of the story. Irvine United Congregational Church was once also the home of University Synagogue, so the space is embedded with multiple faith practices.

From left, Garret Sullivan and Joshua Leduc. Photo courtesy of Riley Blackwell

“Falsettos” takes place in New York City and begins in 1979. Marvin, Trina and their son, Jason, struggle to navigate the fallout from Marvin leaving the family for his lover, Whizzer. Trina gets a second chance at love with Marvin’s psychiatrist, Mendel. The lesbians next door, Charlotte and Cordelia, offer neighborly support as Whizzer contracts what later becomes known as AIDS.

Composer and lyricist William Finn originally created the character of Marvin for the one-act musical "In Trousers" in 1979. Critics hated it, and Finn set out to prove them wrong with his follow-up one-act musical "March of the Falsettos" in 1981. The AIDS crisis inspired a continuation of the story in "Falsettoland." In 1992, "March of the Falsettos" and "Falsettoland" were combined to create "Falsettos," which debuted on Broadway. A popular revival took place in 2016 starring Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells.

Tyrl can’t imagine only doing half of the show.

“We get to see a family evolve, relationships heal and deepen, and Jason make the transition from boyhood to manhood. In many ways, the harder challenge would be separating the two halves because each one gains so much meaning from the other,” he stated.

This musical is a cult favorite despite never reaching major commercial success. When asked why he thinks it has such a devoted following, Tyrl answered:

"The score is one of the best pieces of musical theater ever written. It carries a sense of nostalgia and a solemnity in LGBTQ history. It has earned the title of a classic in the musical theater genre, which keeps bringing people back."

Carolyn Lupin. Photo courtesy of Riley Blackwell

Tyrl wanted to introduce local audiences to “Falsettos,” a musical that, despite its acclaim, isn't staged as often as many Broadway favorites.

“We live in an age when many of us have LGBTQ+ family members and friends, and 'Falsettos' offers a beautiful opportunity to better understand both our past and our present. It is funny, heartbreaking and profoundly human, and I honestly believe everyone should experience this musical at least once in their lifetime,” he stated.

Falsettos will make you feel the full range of human emotions. Tyrl worked hard with his cast to make the highs and lows as truthful as possible.

“I encourage actors to live fully in the moment and pursue their objectives with authenticity,” he explained. “The comedy emerges from recognizable human behavior, and the heartbreak comes from genuine loss and longing. If the actors are truly present and playing truthfully, both the laughter and the tears tend to arrive naturally.”

Scenic design by Mitchell Dambrowski. Photo courtesy of Craig Tyrl

None of the characters presented are perfect, yet they still teach the audience how to show up for each other, even when it’s hard.

“These flawed characters shine a spotlight on how selfishness, the need to control, fear and insecurity can damage our relationships while also reminding us that love is not about perfection,” Tyrl mused. “Despite their mistakes, they continue to show up for one another, and in doing so they demonstrate the power of grace, forgiveness, and the messy, ongoing work of building family and community.”

At a time when many feel more isolated and divided than ever, “Falsettos” reminds audiences to find their voice, love out loud and that family can be chosen as well as biological.

Tyrl can’t praise his cast and creative team enough. He considers this production the can’t miss event of the season.

“The voices and musicality of this ensemble are professional grade outstanding, and with a live band, it’s the musical of the summer,” he promised.