‘The Lost Boys’ Broadway Review: The Best New Musical of the Year

Let me say, I never start a review by talking about the set of a show. But I have to talk about the set of this show. The scenic design by Dane Laffrey is out of this world. Forget the fact that many of the characters fly (this isn’t a spoiler—you get your first glimpse of this in the very opening moments). But the design allows the front of the proscenium to sink and disappear, full sets to descend from the heavens and what you thought were solid walls to become moving pieces for the actors to play on. And through all of this, the action doesn’t feel cramped (like is so often the case on a Broadway stage). It would indeed be a shame if such a set were wasted on a bad musical…but fortunately, that isn’t the case here. From the songs to the performances, everything else about the show is so good.

Shoshana Bean shines as Lucy, delivering a layered performance, plenty of funny one-liners and vocals that bring the house down (again and again). Does her character have too many songs? Perhaps. Would I listen to her sing twice as many? Absolutely.

And while the cast around her isn’t quite as “Broadway famous,” they are also spectacular. LJ Benet sings and acts his face off as “lost” son Michael. Benjamin Pajak wows and brings the laughs as younger son Sam. Ali Louis Bourzgui is terrifying (and terrifyingly good) as Michael’s newest “friend” who harbors a spooky secret.