The question of who BOOP! The Musical is actually for is a prominent one posed during many reviews of this musical. It’s a fair question, as Betty Boop is nowadays recognized as an icon rather than a character people have a genuine attachment with. There are certainly Betty Boop superfans out there like Trisha (Angelica Hale) who find inspiration and feminist meaning from the character’s nerve, but I think that largely people have little connection with her beyond basic recognition. I am one such person, who went into this show with no strong feelings about the character and walked out grinning from ear to ear. Though the target audience may seem a bit narrow, I think that Boop is actually one of the most delightful and easily likable shows currently on Broadway. It’s hard to not watch this show without smiling. And though the production across the board is phenomenal—with the jazzy score, the astounding choreography, and the inventive costumes being obvious high points—the main reason it’s nigh impossible to leave this show in a bad mood is Jasmine Amy Rogers’s star-making turn as Betty Boop. She is the reason you watch this show.

BOOP! The Musical follows a Betty Boop filled with malaise: a gal can only be chased around for a movie so many times until it gets tedious, after all! Tired of her current black-and-white life and wanting a change in scenery, she uses her beloved Grampy’s machine to transport to the colorful world of New York City. There, she meets Dwayne (Ainsley Melham) and his entire quirky family and falls hopelessly in love with the Big Apple. Alas, the cartoon world she left behind cannot function without Betty, so Grampy (Stephen DeRosa) and her pet dog Pudgy (brought to life by Phillip Huber’s truly impressive marionette artistry) set off to New York City to bring her back. The plot has a lot of moving parts and can feel overstuffed at parts—and that’s not even getting into the mayoral race subplot—but the entire atmosphere of the show is so charming that it was difficult for me to care. Perhaps it might not work for an audience member more cynical than I am, but I was delighted to find that the show is as upbeat and optimistic as its title character. And as Dwayne soon discovers, it’s hard to not fall in love with Betty.

After all, Jasmine Amy Rogers is just astonishing as Betty Boop. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the character, she speaks, moves, emotes, and even sings in such a distinctly cartoonish way without ever feeling like a parody. It must be difficult to embody a cartoon character while retaining a human quality to your performance, but Rogers makes it look effortless. She provides so much energy to every moment of the show, making Betty a character you can both laugh with and feel for. Though Betty Boop existed solely as an icon to me before the show, Rogers’s immensely charismatic performance has transformed her into a character I absolutely adore now. 

Perhaps the themes of the show can feel a bit generic, while the excessive plotlines might indicate that book writer Bob Martin bit off more than he could chew. But when I left the Broadhurst Theatre, I thought not of my handful of qualms with the writing but of the positively enchanting two and a half hours of musical theatre I had just witnessed. I was even humming “Why Look Around the Corner” on the subway home! BOOP! The Musical is just a beam of sunshine, with Jasmine Amy Rogers undeniably being the star. Truly, this show is for anyone who, like Betty, wants a change in scenery and to be transported to a wonderful, charming new world that bears little resemblance to our own—even though most of it takes place in New York City. The world of BOOP! The Musical is exciting, kooky, and clearly full of love. If that at all sounds appealing to you, I strongly urge you to book your ticket if you're able.

8.5/10