This season on Broadway has very much been about commercialism and pastiche, so going into Head Over Heels, the Go-Go's jukebox musical last night, I set myself up for another night of being made fun of for something I love: musicals. When I left the Hudson theatre a couple hours later, I felt so happy and had the best time.

Head Over Heels is loosely based on Philip Sidney's story, Arcadia, and features the music of The Go-Go's. It follows King Basilius of Arcadia (Jeremy Kushnir) on a quest to prevent a oracle predicted by Phythio (Peppermint) and brings his family along on this journey. His eldest daughter, Pamela (Bonnie Milligan), must find a suitor and get married, while his younger daughter, Philoclea (Alexandra Socha), is secretly in love with the shepherd boy, Musidorus (Andrew Durand). After being forbidden to see Philoclea again, Musidorus follows the family on their quest but realizes he must disguise himself in order to conceal his true identity. He finds an Amazonian frock and wig and becomes Cleophila in order to tag along with the group which leads to lots of farcical insanity to ensue. Woven into the book by Jeff Whitty, which is cleverly entirely written in iambic pentameter, is the music of the all-female rock band The Go-Go's. The music lent itself quite well to this silly but not non-sensical plot. It played-out like a Shakespeare comedy but dealt with many contemporary topics and issues in a way that was tasteful and didn't make a mockery of them.

The entire production was so well thought out, very creative and clear, thanks to the show's director, Michael Meyer. It had hints of playfulness strung through out and, although had many aspects that made it feel like a farce, the story never felt false. The members of the ensemble were highlighted and used so well, they were able to very much be individuals but excelled as a unit as well. The choreography by Spencer Liff was exciting to watch but the constant use of arm choreography, kicking-your-face and cannons got stale and repetitive as well as moments that pulled focus from plot-driven ones, which made me miss a few Each top-notch performance was enhancing by the exquisite lighting design and intensely detailed costumes, which mashed-up traditional Elizabethan garb with contemporary edge and rockstar glam. The principal performances were excellent and all had incredible moments to show off what they do best. Bonnie Milligan's performance is so perfectly hilarious and, yet, so touching. She is perfectly cast in her Broadway debut as her comedic chops are showcased perfectly as well as her effortless belting. Alexandra Socha draws your eye to her on stage as she radiates sweetness and makes a role that could easily fall into the ingenue trap one that has substance and heart. Peppermint, who is the first transgender woman to originate a principal role on Broadway, was fierce and held their own in a cast of Broadway vets. They filled the stage with an exciting presence that I think will grow as the run continues.

Ultimately, this show was one of the best times I had at a show in a long time. and you can't help but leave the theatre feeling great. The concept is ambitious but is successful. It's safe to say that the work in Head Over Heels has renewed my faith in the future of the Broadway musical.