“The Outsiders” has left a deep cultural impact, both as a novel and a film.
The book, which chronicles warring teenagers on both sides of the socioeconomic divide in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, has become a staple of middle-school English classes across the country.
The movie is probably best known for its high concentration of stars-before-they-were-stars, including, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe and Diane Lane.
It was probably only a matter of time before it was adapted into a musical. “The Outsiders” touring production, now playing at the Fox Theatre through Jan. 18, takes this familiar story and brings it to life in some exciting and inventive ways.
The plot remains the same, focusing on Ponyboy Curtis (Nolan White), an orphaned “Greaser” living on the wrong side of the tracks with his brothers Darrel (Travis Roy Rogers) and Sodapop (Corbin Drew Ross).
The Greasers are constantly running afoul of the preppy rich kids, dubbed the “Socs” who often target Ponyboy’s best friend Johnny (Bonale Fambrini). The Greasers’ ringleader Dallas (Tyler Jordan Wesley) loves to court trouble, so a no-good-can-come-of-this showdown is all but inevitable.
The bones are strong here and the story still lands all the emotional punches that have made the source material so timeless.
As for the musical aspect, the show is a bit of a mixed bag. The overall musical vibe is solid, as the songs have a heavy folk-rock influence that is a perfect fit for the time and place of the story. The individual songs, though, are largely forgettable and don’t really stand out from each other.
The cast also falls into the mixed bag category with some legitimate standouts like White and Ross, but also some holes in the lineup that are glaringly apparent.
What makes “The Outsiders” shine as a musical is the spectacular stagecraft on display. The set is fairly sparse and the first act only hints at the brilliance to come. It all culminates in the rumble scene, which might be worth the price of admission all on its own. Through a stunning combination of choreography, light and sound, the fight unfolds while actual rain falls on the stage and you can almost feel the impact of every punch that is thrown. It’s one of the most impressive things I’ve ever seen on a stage.
There’s a lot here to make “The Outsiders” worthy of your time, as the story of Ponyboy, Johnny and the rest of the Greasers still feels as vibrant and edgy today as it did in the 1960s.
“The Outsiders” is now showing at the Fox Theatre through Jan. 18. For tickets call 314-534-1111 or go to metrotix.com.
