"When You're In Vegas...."

You know, sometimes I really hate technology. Since my last post, the WiFi at my house has been acting up so I couldn't post anything, but I think I'm okay now!

So I'm trying out this new thing where I'm doing research on Broadway shows I have not posted about or have no idea about. One show I will start off with is the musical Honeymoon in Vegas, which is based off of the 1992 film of the same name featuring Nicholas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The book was written by Andrew Bergman (who wrote and directed the original screenplay) with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. [If anyone is planning on seeing this show, it officially opens on January 15th! The current production stars Rob McClure as Jack Singer, Brynn O'Malley as Betsy Nolan, and Tony Danza as Tommy Korman.]

There's a couple, Jack Singer and Betsy Nolan, and Jack wants to propose to his girlfriend but remembers the promise he made to his mother about never marrying because no one else could love her son as much as she did. Jack then proposes that he and Betsy should elope in Vegas, and she accepts. Upon arriving at the Milano hotel, Betsy attracts the eye of a wealthy gangster, Tommy Korman―to Tommy, Betsy bears a resemblance to his late wife, Donna, who passed away from skin cancer.

Tommy invites Jack to a private poker game at his place and wins the poker game, beating Jack's straight flush with a royal flush and landing Jack in a debt of $58,000. Tommy proposes that the debt could be erased if he lets Betsy spend the weekend with him; Betsy disproves of the idea but meets with Tommy and Jack. Tommy proposes that the two spends their weekend in Hawaii; Betsy, still irritated at Jack for allowing this, accepts and the two head to the airport with Jack following behind to stop it.

In Hawaii, Jack is being blocked by Tommy's henchmen, Teihutu and Mahi, by both physically keeping Jack sway from Tommy and Betsy and by seduction on Mahi's part. Betsy meets Tommy's son and his family and she is beginning to feel sympathy for Tommy. Meanwhile Mahi, moved by Jack, decides to help him break the 'curse' (the promise he made to his mother about not marrying) by taking him to a sacred grove (The Garden of Disappointed Mothers). Jack confronts his mother, who tells him it can be broken if he proves himself a man.

Tommy and Betsy leave Tommy's hired family and Hawaii for Las Vegas to get married (at drunk Betsy's request). Jack is unable to stop them from leaving the airport and can find no other way there until he comes across a group of Elvis impersonators that will let him land in Las Vegas with them; however, Jack discovers he has to skydive into Las Vegas, which he does after overcoming a panic attack. Betsy, who is now sober, rejects Tommy after accidentally discovering from one of Tommy's henchmen that Jack only owed $800. Jack then lands into Betsy's arms and they marry on the spot.

I'm a little iffy in this production. I think this show has potential to be great, but I'm just not sold on it yet. Maybe that's why it's heavily promoting itself?