Transport Group Serves Up Fresh, Fabulous 'Molly Brown'

Most people know Molly Brown – if they know her at all – as a brash, folksy, and very wealthy survivor of the Titanic tragedy (she was played memorably by Kathy Bates in James Cameron's blockbuster film). The 1960 musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," now playing Off-Broadway in a production by the Transport Group, tells the story of her humble beginnings as a feisty young woman seeking the good life and finding so much more.

Despite having a fascinating heroine at its center, and a terrific score by Meredith Willson ("The Music Man"), "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" is seldom-produced, presumably due largely to an outdated book by Richard Morris. (It was turned into a successful film that earned Debbie Reynolds an Oscar nomination.) This version is a re-working of the original, with a new book and some new lyrics by Dick Scanlan, who does a marvelous job of maintaining the sassy yet earnest soul of many musicals of its era.

A short scene showing post-Titanic Molly Brown speaking to a Congressional panel about the disaster starts the show, before flashing back to young, dirt-poor, Missouri-born Margaret ("Call me Molly") Tobin arriving in the silver mining town of Leadville, Colorado on her way to Denver. She has big dreams of living it up in the Mile High City, but Leadville miners warn her that she will have to wait for better to weather to continue her journey.

A tragic explosion at the mine alters Molly's fate, as she ends up helping care for a local pregnant widow and making friends with many of the mining men – including the boss, JJ Brown. Surly but good-hearted, JJ spars with Molly non-stop, and eventually love blossoms between these two headstrong folks.

After having two children and enjoying a happy life in Leadville surrounded by good friends, JJ comes up with a brilliant idea for how to mine gold, making the Browns rich and finally making it possible for Molly to try out the high life in Denver that she always dreamed of. Struggles fitting in with the high class, philanthropic adventures, union organizing at the mine, marital strife, European travel, and a fateful trip on the Titanic all follow.

"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" is directed and choreographed with verve and energy by Kathleen Marshall, best known for her excellent work on Broadway revivals of classics like "Kiss Me, Kate," "Wonderful Town," and "The Pajama Game." Here she does a terrific job of staging Meredith Willson's lively tunes and making good use of the production's talented ensemble.

Bookwriter Scanlan has crafted a spirited, funny book with the feel of a Golden Age musical but that seeks to remain relatively faithful to Molly Brown's real biography – which includes her progressive political streak. He brings out the complexity and emotional depth in Molly and JJ's relationship while still providing us with the big-hearted moments we love to see in old-fashioned musicals.

Beth Malone is a blast as Molly Brown, wonderfully capturing this woman of wit, determination, and faith. She's well-matched with David Aron Damane, who makes JJ a worthy partner to the spitfire Molly.

If you want a fresh look at an old-school musical with a fabulous heroine, in a fun and colorful production, don't miss the boat – catch "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" before it's too late.

"The Unsinkable Molly Brown" runs through March 22 at Abrons Arts Center at 466 Grand Street in New York City. For information or tickets, call 212-564-0333 or visit http://transportgroup.org.