While there is nothing remotely original about the sitcom-like It Shoulda Been You, there’s also something perversely reactionary about it. It’s a musical about a wedding that singles out everything that could possibly go wrong during a ceremony, not to mention everything wrong with conservative politics, without ever daring to question the irrelevance of the “sacred institution” itself. The funny thing is, the show seems to think it’s actually being bold, brave and groundbreaking. It’s the day of Rebecca’s (Sierra Boggess) wedding to Brian (David Burtka) and as the bride starts getting cold feet, it's up to their parents to make sure the ceremony is a success, or that it doesn’t happen at all.
Rebecca’s Jewish parents, Judy (Tyne Daly) and Murray (Chip), are trying to appease their daughter’s fears, neglecting the emotional needs of their other daughter, Jenny (Lisa Howard), who has been acting as crisis manager during the process. Brian’s mother Georgette (Harriet Harris) drinks her pains away, often expressing out loud how she wishes her son would be gay rather than have him marry Rebecca, and his father George (Michael X. Martin) is afraid that his son won’t ask his bride-to-be to sign a prenup. To complicate matters even more, Rebecca’s ex-boyfriend Marty (Josh Grisetti) appears in hopes that she will change her mind and call the whole thing off.
The show consists mostly of two things: random individual numbers and fights between Judy and Georgette. One wishes the whole thing had been exclusively about the latter, for Daly and Harris are, as always, a treat to watch. Daly brings her well known severity to the part but infuses it with wisdom and slight insecurity, as if she believes that she can only prove her worth as a mother by seeing her daughter marry off. Harris delights with her nuanced line deliveries and unexpected sexiness. Her Georgette is a cougar completely unaware of her prowess.
It Shoulda Been You has a book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove and music and concept by Barbara Anselmi, all of which are almost instantly forgettable. The show evaporates from one’s mind almost as quickly as it enters, but what remains is its confusing identity, for it’s the rare musical with “a twist” that changes everything we’ve seen up to that point. This would most likely have been the demarcation between the first and second acts, but by obviating an intermission, the show gives itself the luxury of not allowing audience members to question its poor, egregious choices. It’s a show that panders to people who have in the past been ignored onstage, whether it be gay men and lesbians, overweight people or African Americans. It Shoulda Been You has a twist for each of them, meant to empower but coming off more as the forced hug of a politician awaiting their vote.
Even the casting reeks of tokenism, each actor chosen exclusively to represent a potential market draw instead of serving the purpose of serving their respective character. Unsurprisingly this casting comes as a detriment that highlights the show’s unnerving need to please all and failure to please anyone. While there are laughs plenty and a tender moment or two, It Shoulda Been You ends up feeling like being invited to a wedding as someone’s plus one, and wishing you had just stayed home that night instead.
