Groundhog Day the musical

Last week I saw Groundhog Day, the Broadway musical. It was hard not to compare it to the brilliant movie and accept it on its own terms. They did a good job executing the premise, and it was generally fun. The lead was very good. He didn't imitate Bill Murray, whose arrogant performance was tinged with a sad sense of failure. This actor added the cocky assurance of a self-satisfied handsome man, and seemed a little meaner, which worked very well. The female lead was not so great. She didn't have the charm of Andie McDowell and seemed like a generic girl character. You didn't care if they got together or not.

The music itself was ordinary with no memorable or rousing numbers and the voices were solid but not special. With the exception of the man who played the insurance salesman, when he sang his solo I was moved by the song and the quality of his voice.

I'm glad I saw it though. Like I said, it was fun.