Theater Review: Catch Me If You Can

                         Cast of "Catch Me If You Can"

Great news! San Diego Musical Theatre is back on the boards with a terrific production of the 2011 musical “Catch Me If You Can,” the unbelievable but true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a con man who could – and did – begin his lifetime of crime by conning his own father. 

The musical is based on the 2002 film of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1980 autobiography by Abagnale and Stan Redding. This version has a book by Terrence McNally, music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Allison Spratt Pearce directs.

This is the story of an ordinary guy from New Rochelle, New York, whose dad has an ordinary business and a wife who is fooling around with another man. 

Frank, Jr. (Beau Brians) doesn’t want to go that route. In fact, he insists on a life “in living color,” as the first song says, and has decided to do whatever he must to get a life that matches his ambition. That “whatever” includes stealing and pretending to be something (in fact, several somethings) he’s not, including a co-pilot, a doctor, a lawyer and a college professor.

But hey, everybody loves a scoundrel, and after all his dad had told him “People only know what you tell ‘em, Frankie.” So Frankie tells ‘em what they want to hear, and is surprised at his initial success.

Even so, illegal exploits tend to attract the attention of law enforcement, here represented by FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Berto Fernández), who along with three other agents spends the rest of the show trying to catch Frank, Jr. 

But though the agents skulk around in dark clothes and darker frames of mind, this show is really a song-and-dance extravaganza, with a cast of excellent dancers and singers who break into song and kick up a storm at the drop of a hat (especially those flight attendants!).

Just when Hanratty is about to close in, Frank Jr. takes off for Atlanta (and the second act). Here, he meets the love of his life while playing doctor in a local ER.

This is nurse Brenda (Adelaida Martínez), daughter of lawyer Roger Strong (Ted Leib) and his wife Carol (Debra Wanger). So, of course our boy pretends to want to “go back to” the law. Dad is having none of it.

Eventually (remember, this is a true story), Hanratty catches up with Frank Jr. and he will end up in the slammer. But they decide they get along so well that Frank Jr. should work for the Bureau when he gets released. (I know, but it’s true!), and they end up in the last song “Stuck Together.”

This show marks the first production in SDMT’s new digs on Mercury Street. The show space is a bit small (it holds about 115 people) and the movable chairs aren’t the most comfortable, but the joy in finally getting back on the boards is palpable and a delight to behold.

If you’re looking for entertainment with a capital E, this is the show for you.