Jonathan Groff’s declaration of being a “wet man” early in the show is both literal and figurative.
This statement opens ‘Just in Time,’ the Bobby Darin biographical musical that premiered recently at Circle in the Square. It serves as a playful heads-up to the 22 audience members seated at cabaret tables near the stage that Groff’s energetic performance might get physically intense, with sweat and spirited movement filling the space.
Beyond that, Groff embodies an extraordinary emotional expressiveness, channeling his physicality and voice to vividly convey complex feelings. His ability to merge vocal excellence with deep emotional resonance is a rare trait among male musical theater performers.
Bobby Darin, known as a versatile “nightclub animal” who evolved from bopper to crooner and more, provides a fitting vehicle for Groff’s talents. While their personalities differ, both share a drive to entertain and connect with audiences. Groff’s voice is notably smoother and more polished than Darin’s, but the mix of Broadway and Brill Building songs in the show offers dynamic moments that showcase his vocal range and charisma.
In essence, Groff’s performance is outstanding.
The production, directed by Alex Timbers with a book by Warren Leight and Isaac Oliver, initially promises much. The show cleverly begins with Groff appearing as himself rather than immediately as Darin, breaking free from typical jukebox musical conventions by liberating the songs from strictly narrative use. This approach avoids the cliché of forcing every song, especially those with “heart” in the title, into the storyline about Darin’s battle with rheumatic fever.
Instead, ‘Just in Time’ opens as a classic Vegas-style floor show. Groff, dressed in a meticulously tailored suit by Catherine Zuber, moves fluidly between songs and engaging dialogue, captivating the audience. Set designer Derek McLane transforms the Circle’s oval stage into an elegant supper club adorned with silver Austrian drapes and tables filled with clinking glasses. The stage features a bandstand at one end and banquettes around a small stage on the other, creating a versatile entertainment space highlighted by Justin Townsend’s rich gold and indigo lighting. At this point, Darin’s story seems more a backdrop than the main focus.
