Thumbs Up! Fly to Encores! for a Hilarious and Heroic Revival of Superman

The Encores! series at City Center is at its best when a production can not only seamlessly present the original material, but also provide a platform for familiar actors to shine in a new light. Such is the case with John Rando’s expertly directed take on the 1966 tuner It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman. Rando guides a team of acclaimed actors to find brilliant performances in this comic book satire. The Encores! revival benefits from the pitch perfect star turns by Edwards Watts and Jenny Powers, as Superman and his lady love Lois Lane, and it soars thanks to the outstanding performances by supporting players Will Swenson as a narcissistic gossip columnist, Alli Mauzey as the love-starved secretary Sydney and David Pittu as the evil genius Dr. Sedgwick. Mauzey’s “You’ve Got Possibilities” is a highlight of the production, and Swenson and Pittu’s comic duet “You’ve Got What I Need” is a showstopper in every essence of the word. Kudos also go to Smash’s Joshua Bergasse for his inventive and infectious choreography. This fantastic revival of Superman only runs at New York City through March 24, so get there faster than a speeding bullet!