The good news is that Newsies is more fit for the live stage than the big screen: The songs are anthemic, the acting is broad, and name of the game is "effervescence." Smile, newsies! Wave! Dance! Make journalism jive out there!
Hopefully this adaptation will avoid the major mistake in the movie version, which is sheer over-length. Since we don't get Christian Bale again, we'll have to settle for this small triumph. Couldn't Menken and Fierstein smack each other around and fight for the title of 'the king of New York'? Please?
'Newsies' [YouTube]