Ice Boy at Goodman to run thru August 16th

---

“Star Wattage Doesn’t Exactly Thaw Ice Boy but Would Please Mel Brooks!”  - Review By: Paul Lisnek

***/ 4

I have been excited to see Ice Boy since it was first announced as the finale of the current season. Having Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman on the Goodman stage is a dream come true. This is a coup for Goodman and well deserved as its one of the great stages in the country!

Indeed, Ice Boy arrives with a cast so universally charismatic that you anticipate the material will rise to meet them. It usually does, but not completely. That said, this show is very funny, nostalgic in its humor and wit, complete with some slapstick, and near worthy, and certainly reflective of a Mel Brooks effort, although the music is hardly as memorable as Brooks likely would have written. 

Overall, however, the production is visually stunning, often amusing, but falls a bit short of what I always expect and anticipate from a Goodman production. After all, this theater is a crown jewel of Chicago theater.

The premise (Mullally boosting her career through the purchase of a caveman encased in ice for sale on the auction block) flirts with absurdist and offbeat comedy, but for me, the script seems unsure whether it wants to be a satire, or perhaps pure farce. As a result, scenes don’t build with a sort of emotional payoff that might have added a sense of schmaltz that would boosted the final moments. 

Mullally delivers exactly what you’d hope for: impeccable timing, a strong voice and an ability to turn sometimes thin material into something really sparkling. For me, moments of her Karen Walker character from Will & Grace popped in, but maybe it’s because it is difficult to separate her from that iconic role we came to love for years. Offerman leans into his trademark stoicism with a dry humor that always lands strong. His direct audience moments are perfection in assuming (as Eugene O’Neil) that no one knows of The Iceman Cometh, taking some funny digs clearly and humorously aimed at a Bob Falls classic and long Goodman production over the years…we actually wait for and love those audience interaction moments.

And kudos to Sarah Stiles (from Broadway’s Tootsie of a few years back) who often steals her scenes with perfect humor, tone and an unforgettable character voice. The balance of the ensemble is very strong, very funny and very Mel Brooks and helps keep the energy up throughout the show. 

Visually, the production is handsome, with a set design perfect for this 1930’s period. The show is well directed as the action moves along at a steady clip, with a sitcom feel….I guess I just wanted a bit more sense of depth. 

For a show anchored by such formidable performers, Ice Boy is a surprising but certainly worth seeing experience. It has its pleasures, but the script needs a bit more richness or depth. If this show is eying Broadway (and it likely is)….it’ll need some script tweaking to insure a longer run…the promise is there, the cast is perfect. Now give the material just a bit more meat to rise to the ensemble’s level and a hit is sure to be had! 

Ice Boy runs thru August 9th.

Tickets (and they are going fast) can be purchased at: www.GoodmanTheatre.org