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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Notebook
The story follows the lifelong love between Allie and Noah. Told across multiple timelines, the story moves back and forth from the current time to their youthful teenage romance in the 1960s and their separation due to parental and societal pressures, since Allie is from a well-off family while Noah isn't, and their eventual reunion over a decade later. As memory, loss, and passion intertwine, it forms a tale that explores not just falling in love, but what it means to hold onto that love over a lifetime even as your memory fails. While the score by Ingrid Michaelson could use some variety, as it leans more into angst-filled ballads, it does manage to add depth to the story and gives voice to the characters' inner thoughts in ways that feel both intimate and expansive while also moving the plot along. The book remains largely faithful to the novel, while streamlining certain elements for the stage and leaning more heavily into the triple-timeline structure. The stage version (book by Bekah Brunstetter and direction by Michael Greif and Schele Williams) places greater emphasis on the impact of memory loss and the perspective of looking back at the past, which allows the audience to experience the story less as a straightforward romance and more as a reflection on the endurance of love. These choices in both the book and the direction help make the musical stand on its own while still honoring what made the original book, and the film, so beloved. While the characters aren't exactly full of depth, the actors bring them to life with sincerity and passion. The three iterations of Allie and Noah (younger, middle, and older) are seamlessly connected through the performances, with each actor capturing different facets of their characters, and through the great costumes by Paloma Young, which feature similar color palettes and styles for the two main characters that instantly connects the three versions of them together at different stages in their lives. As Older Allie, Sharon Catherine Brown incredibly and effectively evokes in heartbreaking fashion the pain of memory loss, while Beau Gravitte, as Older Noah, brings a sense of lived-in history and an immense loss in seeing his beloved lost in her mind, which grounds the story in something deeply human. The two of them are on stage for most of the show, as Noah tells Allie the details of their romance, which comes to life in front of them, and they bring a beautiful sense of history even when not saying a word. The younger versions of Allie and Noah, Chloë Cheers and Kyle Mangold, radiate youthful passion, while Alysha Deslorieux and Ken Wulf Clark as their middle counterparts add layers of complexity, showing how time shapes and changes but never diminishes their bond. All six actors have warm and rich singing voices that shine and soar on their solos and duets. They also manage to add distinct physical and emotional qualities for their versions of the characters which helps to maintain a throughline to make the transitions in the ages of the characters feel seamless. The supporting roles are equally well played (especially Anne Tolpegin as Allie's judgmental mother and Connor Richardson, who plays an over eager physical therapist), providing distinct supporting characters that ground the central romance in a fully realized world. Visually, the touring production is rich and elegant. The direction by Michael Greif and Schele Williams maintains a fluid pace that allows the shifts in time to feel natural rather than jarring; this is especially effective when all six of the main characters are on stage together to show the connection between Allie and Noah at various stages in their lives. David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis' set design is extremely versatile, using both large-scale elements, video projections by Lucy Mackinnon, and an effective rain design to suggest multiple locations while keeping the focus on the characters. The lighting design by Ben Stanton is particularly striking, using hanging light elements that lower and raise, along with carefully chosen tones to underscore the emotional landscape of the piece. Together, the direction and creative designs create a theatrical experience that enhances the central romance without overshadowing it. While the score could be better and more varied and the characters slightly more fleshed out, the stage adaptation of The Notebook succeeds because it trusts its source material. Sparks' tale of enduring love, resilience over the passage of time, and the effects of memory loss is handled with clarity and care with a wonderful cast who capture the essence of this beloved and heartfelt love story. The Notebook runs through April 12, 2026, at ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forest Avenue, Tempe AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.asugammage.com or call 480 965-3434. For information on the tour, visit notebookmusical.com Music, Lyrics: Ingrid Michaelson Cast: |
