Musical ‘Lempicka’ Brings Thrilling Portrait Of An Artistic Icon To Broadway

The daring new musical Lempicka, based on the life of the Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka, opened on Broadway’s Longacre Theatre on Monday night.

Tamara de Lempicka was a pioneering female artist renowned for her Art Deco images of powerful and detached women, making her a celebrity in Paris and later in Los Angeles. While her name may not be widely recognized, her unmistakable aesthetic can be seen in various cultural touchstones, such as the covers of Ayn Rand’s novels and Madonna‘s iconic music videos.

Written by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer, the musical focuses on Lempicka’s bisexuality and explores her relationships with two significant loves: her unremarkable husband, Tadeusz Lempicki, and the dynamic Parisian prostitute, Rafaela. While Rafaela’s allure and creative inspiration for Tamara are evident, her devotion to Tadeusz remained a focal point of the show. Despite Tadeusz’s lack of ambition and disdain for her art, Tamara inexplicably clings to their relationship throughout the play. The character of Rafaela seems to be an amalgamation of various people in Lempicka’s life, and the musical introduces Tamara as a young bride already pregnant, which plays into Tadeusz’s decision to marry her, as he is the one who needs to be convinced. 

Leading lady Eden Espinosa delivers an inspired performance as Lempicka. The show touches on various themes such as class, gay liberation and the rise of fascism. Director Rachel Chavkin maintains a brisk pace to cover the artist’s 60-year lifespan, but a narrower focus could have allowed for a more impactful storytelling experience. Still, Lempicka packs a punch thrilling new music and powerful vocal performance to match.

Get tickets now for Lempicka at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre.

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