Summary
When Anna decides to sell her family’s dilapidated roller-skating rink, her estranged daughter Angel unexpectedly returns, determined to save it and their relationship. Through a series of present-day confrontations and flashbacks, the two women are forced to reckon with the painful memories and resentments that drove them apart.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM Sep 16, 2025, 7:00 PM
I think I can see the vision for “The Rink,” even if it feels like maybe they ham-handedly chose this setting as an excuse to use the whizz-bang new synthesizer keyboard. Beth Leavel, playing the lead, had some choice expletives for it at her 54 Below show in August. 🤭 But everyone was on their best behavior in front of John Kander—four seats down from me!—who looks remarkably good for 98.
Kander’s score is the clear highlight; a lot of these songs are very pretty. (Maybe even surprisingly so? Kander & Ebb love to shock.) Many songs intersperse tinny carnival organ with these tender, harp-like arpeggios, which sets the scene nicely for an intimate mother-daughter drama centered around the old family skating rink. This was a lovely rendition of the score, too, bringing down some of the harshness of the organ compared to the ‘84 Minnelli/Rivera recording. An impressive collection of voices take us through it, including Leavel, Jessie Mueller, Santino Fontana, and a fun ensemble. “The Apple Doesn’t Fall” was my fave.
I feel a little bad talking smack about a theater after its benefit concert, especially this one, which has a particularly important function in the off-Broadway ecosystem, but, man, the acoustics in here are rough for musicals. I’ve seen a few of them here now and I always have a lot of moments when I just can’t make out the lyrics. I also don’t know that Terrence McNally’s book totally delivers on the premise. There were some “men writing women” moments in here that probably needed to be reined in by a female dramaturg. One too many twists near the end for my taste, as well, but maybe they would play better in a more elaborate production.
But a fun time, all in all! Love getting a chance to see the obscure stuff and this was a solid concert staging. It would be challenging to mount a real revival of this with all the roller skating business, but I think it could be rewarding for the right director.