‘Wanted’ Broadway Review: These 2 Bandits Are No Bonnie and Clyde

Broadway's newest musical, "Wanted," debuted on Sunday and tells the true story of twin sisters, Mary and Martha Clarke, who were 19th century bandits in Texas. The sisters, played by Solea Pfeiffer and Liisi LaFontaine, become successful thieves by passing for white, despite being Black. However, the musical's dense white characters are unable to see past their ruse.

Two Black maids, Aurelia Williams and Awa Sal Secka, serve Mary and Martha when they take residence in a posh hotel, providing comic relief in the form of a song titled "Dangerous." Williams and Secka are a great comic duo, switching easily between being the alpha and beta comics in the show. The direction of these two maids by Stevie Walker-Webb is also praised.

The musical, however, suffers from a lack of focus in the first act, with the crime spree being the least exciting part. The characters, Mary and Martha, are not very colorful, and the white face powder used by the sisters is a problem. The musical is set in 1893, not 1993, and the sly way in which Mary goes from being a gold digger to a committed lover is a highlight.

Overall, "Wanted" is a two-and-a-half-hour musical with some strong performances, but it struggles to maintain a sense of excitement throughout.