Baby, It's You!

   Baby, it's you! Is a musical that purports to tell the story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who discovered the Shirelles and pioneered scepter records paving the way for women in the music business. This is not the case. It is a musical that uses the story of Florence Greenberg to showcase Motown hits from the late 50's and early 60's.

    The music is wonderful. There are all the hits of The Shirelles you would expect (except for Will you still love me tomorrow for which the producers could not secure rights), unfortunately they are not surrounded by a book that flows naturally, or tells a compelling story.

   Ms. Greenbergs story IS compelling, and the show is at times maddening in the way that it completely glosses over important moments in her life and career, and turns supporting characters such as her husband Bernie, and her blind son (who wrote the song Dedicated to the one I love), into cartoonish caricatures. See if her husband doesn't remind you of Snidely Whiplash.

   The show is two and a half hours long. The first act is better than the second, and neither act ends with satisfaction. The first act ends extremely awkwardly, with Ms. Greenberg turning to the audience as if to sing, but instead the curtain falls. The second act is nearly unbearable. The book takes a vacation for nearly 25 minutes while song after song plays without rhyme or reason.

      The cast is exceptionally talented. The girls who play The Shirelles all do each song justice. There is no question that the show is resting on the very talented shoulders of Beth Leavel, who elevates the more than lack luster material to a place of mediocrity. This is the only reason, if there ever was one, to see Baby, It's you!.

     Florence Greenberg and the story of  her journey from Suburban New Jersey housewife to music industry Mogul is definitely worthy of a Broadway musical. I hope someday somebody writes one.