Goodman Theatre’s ‘Iceboy!’ Is A Hysterical, Joyfully Absurd Musical
A gleefully absurd new musical with razor-sharp comedy and an irresistible sense of fun, Iceboy! embraces theatrical nonsense with complete confidence, delivering one laugh-out-loud moment after another.
If you know me well, you know that I am always up for a conversation about the changes and growth in musical theatre over the years. What went from ballad-heavy love stories with a few group songs, like in Carousel, to sweeping lore productions like The Phantom Of The Opera has, decades later, has landed in a pocket of modernity once again. These days, we are seeing more musicals with punchy one-off jokes, characters with personality, songs designed to drive the story, and physical comedy. Think Death Becomes Her, and now, Iceboy!.
Iceboy! Or The Completely Untrue Story Of How Eugene O’Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh centers around Broadway star Vera Vimm, who purchases a man in a block of ice at an auction with most of her money. She runs in circles that include playwright Eugene O’Neill (who is also the narrator for the show), longtime boyfriend and O’Neill competitor Floyd, and house manager and friend Lambert, among other famous names. When the ice melts around the 40,000-year-old Neanderthal, Vera adopts the Iceboy, and his talents begin to shine.
This is a hilarious new show that reminds me of Oh, Mary! in that they took the smallest piece of real history (that Eugene O’Neill existed, wrote plays, and had some very personal stories that became well-known), twisted it on its head, and added an entire story that is untrue, but amazing to experience.
The cast is spectacular, starring Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman as Vera and Eugene, respectively, and costarring Grey Henson as Iceboy, Sarah Stiles as Lambert, Cedric Yarbrough as Floyd, and Alex Goodrich as Frankenstein. Yes, Frankenstein. The ensemble also has several significant roles, and everyone on stage is at their best. Voices are lovely, choreography is tight, and the cohesiveness of the performances levels up the entire production.
The script and songs are snappy and clever, smartly titling each number loosely to protect whatever joke may come with it. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud, and you could hear people in the audience exclaiming, “Oh my goodness!” or “Oh no!” on the regular.
O’Neill speaks to the audience as the narrator, so not only do you feel like you are part of the conversation, but when the action on the stage begins again, you are whisked away into the silliness. It is welcome, it is comfortable, and you never get tired of what Iceboy! has to offer.
The sets are gorgeous, ranging from Vera’s house to a zoo, a hospital, a hotel, and a Broadway set. Costumes have been carefully chosen to reflect both the character and the scene, so while Vera is usually dressed to the nines in cosmopolitan garb and her house staff has their own type of individual uniform, there is a range of ensembles that add to the ambiance (not to mention the Neanderthal encased in ice and Frankenstein).
With music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Mark Hollmann and Jay Reiss, book by Erin Quinn Purcell and Jay Reiss, directed by Marc Bruni, and choreographed by Joann M. Hunter, Iceboy! is a cheeky romp that is charming, unpredictable, and full of life. From the physical comedy to the vibrant chemistry between its cast, Iceboy! is the kind of musical that reminds you just how much fun live theatre can be. Make sure to get your tickets at Goodman now. You’ll want to say that you saw it when!
Iceboy! runs for approximately 2 hours 15 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. It is recommended for ages 13 and up.
Goodman Theatre: Iceboy! Chicago Review – Iceboy! is playing at The Goodman Theatre through 8/9/26. Tickets can be purchased on the Goodman Theatre website or by calling (312) 443-3800. Goodman Theatre is located at 170 North Dearborn in Chicago.