CHICAGO—Since ancient times, there have been stories of men trying to fly. They tried strapping on feathered wings, flaring capes, or other devices in their attempt to imitate birds. They usually tried to reach the heavens by jumping off a towering mountain or edifice.
But of all the attempts at flight, none have been more fascinating than that of the man who, on a lawn chair and 42 balloons, succeeded in floating atop the clouds.
That real-life event surprised many on July 2, 1982 and is the subject of a new musical, “42 Balloons.” The show debuted in London and is now in a North American premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
The man at the show’s center is Larry Walters, whom the media laughingly called “Lawnchair Larry.” During an interview on the “Late Show With David Letterman,” Larry said that he had always wanted to fly but couldn’t become a pilot because he had poor eyesight.
Larry’s Story
It begins with Larry meeting a charming young lady, Carol Van Deusen. She becomes his girlfriend, and he reveals his long-held desire to fly to her. She believes in him and helps him with emotional and financial support. He buys 42 helium-filled weather balloons, rope, and a lightweight aluminum lawn chair, and then persuades Carol’s skeptical mother, Margaret, to allow him the use of her backyard as a launching site. His friend, Ron Richland, will film his historic flight when he sets off into the sky.
The Production
With a songbook and script by British playwright-composer Jack Godfrey, the wonderful musical follows Larry’s story through his unique achievement and then to its unexpected consequences. Filled with hope and a dreams-can-come-true exhilaration, “42 Balloons” weaves its tale with an upbeat 1980s-style songbook and powerful characters.Elegantly directed by Ellie Coote, the musical features interesting scenic design by Milla Clarke, energetic choreography by Alexzandra Sarmiento, period costuming by Natalie Pryce, extraordinary lighting by Bruno Poet, terrific videos by Andrzej Goulding, and great musical direction by Patrick B. Philips.
Not only is the amazing story enthralling, but the show’s upbeat score harkens back to a time when song lyrics meant something. The show has some enchanting tunes such as “Up in the Air,” “42 Balloons and a Lawn Chair,” “Something as Crazy as This,” as well as some emotional ballads that include “Helium” and “What Dreams Can Do.”
Since this is a character-driven musical, it needs strong performers, which this production has in abundance. Charlie McCullagh, who greatly resembles quirky Larry Walters, delivers an emotionally moving portrayal as he takes us on an adventure to the skies before falling back down to the hard reality of terra firma.
As his girlfriend Carol, Evelyn Hoskins turns in a moving portrayal, which demonstrates why Larry would be attracted to her. Indeed, McCullagh and Hoskins are so good together that you believe they were meant to be a couple.
The two stars are supported by an excellent ensemble of players, which includes Lisa Howard as Margaret Van Deusen, Akron Watson as Larry’s videographer friend Ron Richland, Daniel Assetta as the funny Air Traffic Controller, and Austin Nelson Jr. as Letterman.
This captivating, feel-good show is about going after one’s dreams, of helping others achieve theirs, and what happens when dreams really do come true. Many will leave the theater not only singing some of the songs but thinking about plans to make their own dreams come true.
