Daniel Hillard, a struggling, out-of-work actor, will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the kindly alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father. A hilarious and heartfelt story about holding onto your loved ones against all odds, Mrs. Doubtfire is the musical comedy we need right now — one that proves we’re better together.
The musical's opening show featured Alex Branton as Daniel, with McClure taking a night off. He didn't skip a beat. His excellent performance with co-star (and McClure's real-life partner) Maggie Lakis is the perfect accomplice as Miranda. Playing off Branton's wisecracking jokes, physical comedy and hokey impressions, her serious demeanor was the perfect counterbalance.
But the best thing about “Mrs. Doubtfire: A New Musical Comedy” is that it restores the heartfelt message of the book—that divorce doesn’t have to be an end for a family, but can simply be a new chapter. Rather than the ambiguous ending of the film where Daniel returns with the implication that there could well be a marital reconciliation, the musical makes it quite clear that will not happen, yet remains upbeat. It was a particularly moving decision for McClure’s curtain call to be as Daniel, not Mrs. Doubtfire.
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