Broadway's 'Beaches' Musical Fails to Capture the Magic of the Beloved '80s Film

'Beaches' Broadway Review: '80s Tearjerker Washes Out As Stage Musical

The stage adaptation of the iconic 1988 film, which premiered on Broadway tonight, struggles to translate the emotional resonance of the original to the theatrical format.

The beloved 1988 film Beaches, which chronicles the turbulent bond between two women and remains etched in popular culture largely due to Bette Midler's iconic performance of the ballad "Wind Beneath My Wings," has finally made its journey to the Broadway stage. However, the transition has proven problematic for the material.

The cinematic version, despite its devoted following, possessed only modest appeal offset by its excessive sentimentality. Those limited strengths have effectively disappeared in the stage incarnation, which now features cardboard characterizations, exaggerated acting choices and visually uninspiring production design that clutters the theatrical space with distracting elements.

Debuting this evening as Beaches, A New Musical, the production represents a largely unmemorable theatrical experience. This assessment extends to the musical composition itself, which unlikely to enhance the distinguished career of celebrated rock and roll composer Mike Stoller, who created the score for this adaptation.