by Nicolas Pacelli

The Broadway in Austin ‘26/27 Season is here, opening with Mrs. Doubtfire, a new musical comedy based on the beloved 90’s classic film that has charmed audiences for decades! For the average theatre goer, Mrs. Doubtfire might be unfamiliar territory, but fans of the 1993 film will be delighted by the same comic stylings and emotional core they’ve been watching for years. Mrs Doubtfire is sometimes a slight misfire, suffering from a weaker book, and a score with no musical source material. However, when this production (often) leans into the absurdity of the premise and characters, it’s impossible to resist the laughter and heart oozing off the stage. 

From Daniel to Doubtfire 

Mrs Doubtfire follows Daniel Hillard, an unemployed fun-loving father of three who loses the custody of his three children when his wife Miranda divorces him for the better of the family. Consequently, the show’s first thirty-or-so minutes follow Daniel as he adjusts to his new life, setting up the premise for when he becomes Mrs. Doubtfire herself in the energetic number “Make Me a Woman”. Unfortunately, these first thirty or so minutes struggle to find the right balance between establishing the stakes of the story and finding the show’s comedic tone. As Daniel flounders in chaos, the audience is subject to the same limbo state, with few effective jokes or memorable tunes to latch onto. Fortunately, the tone (and effectiveness) of the show take a sharp turn for the better once Mrs. Doubtfire steps on stage after the transformation number “Make Me a Woman”. Doubtfire’s thick Scottish accent and over-the-top actions allow the show to lean into its absurdity, which makes it all the more entertaining and surprisingly more emotional as well.

While some of the sappier moments fell ham-fisted or forced, the show is able to counteract those shortcomings by leaning into its absurdity. This balance of absurdity and emotion is most effective in the show’s second act as it barrels towards its deus-ex-machina-esque conclusion. While the audience was hesitant to laugh as Daniel’s story unfolded, once he lets loose, the whole house felt ready to as well, and the show soars towards triumph. 

Characters You Know, Performances You’ll Love

When these iconic characters were first brought to life by beloved actors such as Robin Williams, Sally Field, and Pierce Brosnan, the shoes for this national tours cast to fill are certainly big. While the show’s material doesn’t give every performer the greatest jokes and beats to work with, the cast is certainly firing on all cylinders, infusing the source material with bold new choices and characterizations. At the top of the pack is most obviously Craig Allen Smith as Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire, whose vocal variety and exaggerated physicality carries the show extraordinarily well throughout. One lengthy monologue full of spot-on character impressions he gives near the top of the show warranted a full ovation at its conclusion, and deservedly so. Keeping it in the family, child actor Teddy Rayburn really stands out as Daniel’s son Christopher. His performance borrows from established comedic bits throughout the show, and the audience was the perfect volley for his tongue-and-cheek style. Brian Kalinowski as Daniel’s brother Frank is another stellar comedic turn who maintained clarity and comedy very well, even at the loud volumes the character is required to operate at. Playing the straight woman to…well, everyone else is Kennedy V. Jackson as social worker Wanda Sellner, who is especially commanding in an extended scene where she first meets Mrs. Doubtfire. While the show focuses mainly on the family, the ensemble is full of cameo and walk-on roles that left lasting impressions, particularly Mia Dorsett as studio executive Janet Lundy. Dorsett’s monotonous delivery throughout the show only becomes more brilliant when she finally breaks out into laughter at the end of “He Lied to Me”, earning the biggest audience reaction of the entire night. 

Standout Songs & Sequences 

• “I’m Rockin’ Now”: Closing out Act One, this rock-inspired anthem brought the whole company together on stage as they weaved the song’s earworms into the audience. The dramatic tension of the show comes to a head in this number, cutting together scenes of tense dialogue with musical delight, culminating in a cut-to-black style reveal that made it impossible not to return to your seat after intermission. 
• “The Shape of Things to Come”: Mrs. Doubtfire rapping in a trendy avant-garde workout clothing line…need we say more? Early in the second act, this hysterical two hander between Mrs. Doubtfire and an oblivious Miranda brought constant cackles to the crowd as it called back to iconic musical theatre numbers such as Legally Blonde’s “Whipped Into Shape”. 
• “Let Go”: The true emotional center of the show is Miranda’s ballad “Let Go”, a heartbreaking confession that speaks to the devastating nature of divorce for all parties involved. Additionally, this is the only moment in the show where vocals are able to take priority, and Melissa Campbell absolutely steals the show, belting all the way to the back of the house. 
• “Playing With Fire”: Maybe the centerpiece of the entire musical is this kinetic dream sequence where Mrs. Doubtfire faces all of her fears, past, present, and future. Calling back to various iconic moments in the show, the audience got a real kick out of this one. The staging also really shines here, filling an often empty stage with chaotic formations that only increase the numbers comedic and dramatic effect, and an army of psychotic Mrs. Doubtfires haunting our protagonist is a truly magnificent moment. 
• “He Lied to Me”: The climax of the show plays out in tandem with this musical tale of revenge and betrayal performed by a flamenco dancer at a restaurant. The song’s lyrics hysterically align with the unfolding plot, as all the show’s characters intersect once and for all. Stellar staging and clever comedic timing ramp up throughout the sequence  before Mrs. Doubtfire’s identity is revealed once and for all! 

Musical Numbers

Act One

• “Overture”
• “That’s Daniel”
• “I Want to Be There”
• “I Want to Be There (Reprise)”
• “Try a Little Harder”
• “Make Me a Woman”
• “What the Hell”
• “Mr. Jolly Theme Song”
• “So Long From Mr. Jolly”
• “Easy Peasy”
• “I Want to Be There (Reprise)”
• “Mr. Jolly Theme Song (Reprise)”
• “It’s About Time”
• “I’m Rockin’ Now”

Act Two

• “Entr’acte”
• “The Shape of Things to Come”
• “Big Fat No”
• “Let Go”
• “Clean It Up/What the Hell (Reprise)”
• “Playing With Fire”
• “Welcome to La Rosa”
• “He Lied to Me”
• “Just Pretend”
• “As Long as There Is Love”

The start of a new Broadway in Austin season is always a cause for celebration, and Mrs. Doubtfire is the only way to get the party started. Performances run now until Sunday, September 27th and tickets can be purchased at texasperformingarts.org! If you’re just as excited about this season as we are, check out our Broadway in Austin Season Preview to see what else is coming to Bass Concert Hall, just around the corner!