Boop! The Musical is the Bees Knees at The Fabulous Fox

 

–by Ashley Cox

 

 

It is late October and Fall may have arrived in St. Louis. Theatre goers had a mix of short sleeves and cardigans as they filed into the lobby on Wednesday night for the second show day of BOOP! The musical at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. BOOP! is a young show, starting in Chicago in 2023 and has had a roughly 4-month run on Broadway in 2025. This is its first national tour run.

 

I remember Betty Boop being everywhere in the 90s though I cannot recall ever seeing an episode of the 1930s cartoon. That is why I was a bit surprised when I saw the announcement that she would be getting a show. The show’s individual elements are amazing… the cast, the songs, costuming, and jaw dropping tap numbers are all things I adore. The combined product did not seem to meet the sum of its parts.

 

Aliya Grace as Betty is jaw dropping. Beyond her stage presence and belting voice, I was happy to see a woman of color portraying Betty. There is no official confirmation of who Boop was based on but many theories include Ester Jones, a popular 1920/30s singer and dancer from Chicago. The ensemble also may take the crown for the hardest working dancers right now. Jaxon Keller was doing multiple wings in a row before launching into another full tap number.

 

Almost every number in BOOP feels like it could be an act opener or closer. A sensory feast, it does disrupt the normal musical experience where you build up to the intermission or closing. I had a fun time watching incredibly talented people be incredibly talented. See BOOP! Before November 8th at the Fox to see how the cast elevates what could be a one note show. Performers and the hard working stage crew are what make the magic.