JUST inTIME-A Jubilant Juke Box Musical of Bobby Darin is Without a Doubt -

The high octane, juke box musical about the life of Bobby Darin is a crowd pleaser featuring Jeremy Jordan as a Bobby Darin interpreter along with a live band, bodacious backup dancers and clever staging within an intimate setting at the Circle in the Square Theater. The main floor serves as a night club with small round tables and low lamps.  The setting serves as a constant reminder that Darin's fan base and talents were based in lounges where his charisma and crooner pipes were best appreciated.  Jeremy Jordan (Tony and Drama Desk nominee for "Floyd Rollins" and "Newsies") as Darin, informs us early on he will play himself interpreting Darin rather than impersonating him. He tells us the two had numerous things in common including a desire to to perform before live audiences.  We're also at the start of Darin premature death at 37; until then he had a lot of living to do. This musical biopic is anything but depressive. It's non-stop high-octane singing and dancing. Darin takes a backseat to other talented cast members including actors portraying his mother, Connie Francis and Sandra Dee.  Despite being a sickly child who spent most of his early years hospitalized leaving him with a frail heart condition, Darin was determined to make the most of every opportunity.  He's raised by a loving, single mother and doting older sister who worry incessantly over his health. The energy is consistently upbeat.  So too are the musical numbers especially the classic favorites Darin wrote and made into hits:  "Splish Splash," "Beyond the Sea," "Mack the Knife" and "Dream Lover."  His early romance with a very young Connie Francis is aborted by her pistol toting father. (Why? We can only guess.). But Francis tells us that Darrin was the great love of her life after having had 4 failed marriages.  Backing up Jordan on minimal stage space are 3 sirens with their deceptively demanding choreography and numerous costume changes.  The exceptional band is on stage throughout the show keeping maintaining a jubilant energy and smooth transitions.  Darin met the established movie star Sandra Dee while making his first film with her and set about getting her to marry him.  Their paparazzi pleasing marriage thrilled fans but their marriage with a newborn son didn't last long.  We watched their love get set aside as we watched Darin perform through Dee's inebriated eyes watching his sets. A few shocking family secrets are revealed though the irrepressible Darin is never downtrodden too long to get back out there. In addition to Jordan's winning performance, the entire cast keeps things sailing along beyond the stars.  Beyond a doubt, this is a highly entertaining first rate musical that delivers on golden sands.