My 12-year old son introduced this musical to me in fact.
And it breaks my heart that we didn't manage to see it live in NYC in its run in late 2021 but I am so grateful they had shot the final closed (?) performance on film.
The casting of Hagelberger is beyond perfect.
On stage for all but 13 minutes in an almost 2 hour production, no other musical comes to mind which demands so much of its lead, not just in terms of technical competence and artistry but also from his emotional self, and one so young. He brings incredible pluck and authenticity to Trevor.
Truely, even his occasional minor fumbles (an affable "chew the lights" in "One, Two"; a strained D5 in the first number "On With the Show" - part of me wonders if he reworked the lyrics (on the fly??) to skip over a D#5 later in the number's climax, replacing it with a long but delightful knowing smile) add credibility and joy to Trevor's triumphant journey, from self-realization to self-doubt, from self-harm to self-advocacy.
Versus, the 2017 lead (opinion based only on a few online clips however) who was perhaps too polished, and whose facial expressions come across to me as too wise cracking and smirky. Though he did hit that D#5, the official highest note for the character per the cast breakdown on MTI, with room to spare.
Rather, from start to finish, Hagelberger's Trevor is "a kind of person that makes me, and everyone, feel, you know, really. Happy."
Plus the emotions the viewer can see in his closeups afforded to by the film version -- just wow. Some examples in the song "One of these Days": a side glance at Pinky's hand over his shoulder the first time Pinky touches him in a social setting ("a decade and I could be having it all"); his eyes staying longingly on Pinky who looks outwards to sing ("totally see we are meant to be"); a blink and you will miss it flit of the tongue as Pinky gives him a hug ("you're the best, Trevor"). Easily missed by a theatre audience not in the first few rows, it's great that the proshot can bring out all these emotive subtleties that Hagelberger brings to his Trevor.
Some small observations ...
I love that here Trevor joins Diana in "Endless Love" (the only time they "sing together, with harmonies"!! - perhaps a tearful recompense to having thrown away all her posters and records). This contrasts with the short film where Trevor's mouthing of those lyrics were depicted as his final moments of joy.
Little symbolisms, Diana Ross and Dream Pinky being the only ones to come out of the literal closet, and Jack also getting to mouth Diana's words and mimic her movements, are lovely too. How poignant if one day Hagelberger would come back to play the role of Jack.
The attempted assassination is a most brilliant Chekov's Gun -- with an incredibly moving and succinct payoff.
The small patches of rainbow colours on the two mean kids are a nice touch (belt and shoes for Mary, and the sweater with thin stripes for Jason). As is having Trevor with Pinky behind the dumpster switch his posture from legs crossed (in the production stills) to the "pyjama party position"; this adds so much more intimacy and sweetness to the scene moments before the cruelty becomes vicious.
Oh and what heartbreaking differences a couple of seconds in that scene would've made - Trevor would've gotten to express his feelings to Pinky privately at the dumpster.
Pinky inappropriately finishes Frannie's sentence ("--- every second that goes it keeps on growing") in "Can't Wait", but can't finish his own ("Trevor, I am so ---") in the Finale. I don't know whether to laugh or cry about these.
Trevor makes the perfect ad for his Saucony Jazz Originals: prefect for singing and dancing (not to mention, "duck, slide, dodge, turn, sneak, snap, tip, slip"-ing) eight shows a week.
And some that bother me ...
The Notebook: "I wanna go where you're going, wherever you are; I wanna be where you're standing, no matter how far" - I think it would make more sense if the beginnings of these two phrases were switched.
My Imagination: Keeping my grammar hat on, this one really does grate me - "Was I hearing my own story when I heard him telling his, like a signal out of nowhere, like a light I've never known". The last part should be "like a light I'd never known"!! (The sentence makes no reference to the present moment, hence the present perfect tense is not appropriate.)
Walter crossing his feet with his shoes resting on Trevor's bed as it is wheeled out for a scene change, rather rude especially considering Trevor was socks only on his bed earlier in the same scene ...
Finally, not sure where the diana with a lowercase "b" album disappears to in Act 2 (a conspicuous change, but can't figure out why - was it removed so that Trevor wouldn't throw it out in "Remember Me"?), and not sure how a tear-stained Trevor at the end of "Invisible" immediately begins the next number "Wrong" with a dry face.
Thank you again to the creatives, the actors, and everyone else who was part of this production, filming and recording. I do wish "Endless Love" was part of the soundtrack, though I understand likely why it wasn't.
