Michael John La Chiusa, who has written the scores for such exciting musicals as HELLO AGAIN, THE WILD PARTY and BERNARDA ALBA, has a new Off-Broadway show in previews based on the strange story of Annie Taylor. It's called QUEEN OF THE MIST.
She was the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, on October 24, 1901, an incredible feat that should have won her fame and fortune - but unfortunately the public found that a 63-year-old woman, who emerged from her barrel proclaiming "Nobody ought ever to do that again", didn't quite fit with their image of a daredevil.
A widow who had fallen on hard times, poor Annie went to Niagara in desperation, in a last-ditch attempt to gain financial security. Instead she had to sit beside her barrel trying to sell her signature to an oblivious public, and finally died in poverty.
The wonderful Mary Testa is giving a tour-de-force performance as Annie (often sounding uncannily reminiscent of Kaye Ballard) with terrific support from Andrew Samonsky as her drunken manager.
Their relationship gives a strong spine to a rather sprawling piece. With terrific direction by Jack Cummings III who staged the knockout HELLO AGAIN earlier this year for the Transport Group, the show could use some editing but will surely become a hot ticket on the basis of Testa's portrayal.
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