It Should Have Been You
books and lyrics by Brian Hargrove
music and concept by Barbara Anselmi
directed by David Hyde Pierce
starring Tyne Daly
July 26, 2015
Production website  💉💉💉 out of 5.

I never expected this to be such a sweet experience. Although the story of the day-of-the-wedding-blues and accombant regret has been told over and over – It Should Have Been You seemed oh, so fresh to me. The play was certainly built on the fun of the Jewish family marrying up with the decidedly not-Jewish. The wit is quick. The mother-in-laws, featuring Tyne Daly and Harriet Harris simply rock with comic timing, but it is the big, belting number of the plus-size sister played by Tony-nominee Sierra Goggess that sealed the success of the matinee. Her anthem, “Jenny’s Blues” nearly brought the house to its feet. She so deserved each and every moment.

Again, musicals are not my favorite entertainment, but nothing could have felt better this Sunday afternoon. I was so glad to see a show that didn’t put me into thinking and solving a puzzle each moment. It was so refreshing to see a show that wasn’t pushing so hard to be liked or understood. It was a sharing of the story in the best meaning of the phrase. Even, god forbid, the gay characters and themes in the plays were refreshingly simple and honest. A nice warm cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon with a handful of gummy bears just for silliness. The perfect way to spend a Sunday.