Paramount Theatre’s “Groundhog Day: The Musical” a funny, furry cure for pandemic fatigue

Photos provided by Liz Lauren

It’s only fitting that the entire Midwest region’s premiere of “Groundhog Day: The Musical,” which already racked up seven Tony Award nominations, is right here in Illinois during the very week of that spring-forecasting holiday.

Granted, Aurora’s Paramount Theatre isn’t the movie’s precise filming location in Woodstock, but it’s nonetheless close enough, along with being a major league destination for Broadway in the burbs that always matches if not surpasses what’s going on downtown.

The only element missing was fellow local Bill Murray from the mammoth movie, but it was nonetheless an enjoyable musical adaptation of the very same comedy, albeit with the adult themes and language turned up a few notches, that finds haughty weatherman Phil Connors (played by a spot-on Alex Syiek) complaining about having to cover the annual emergence of a groundhog.

Instead of merely reporting on the results of whether or not the furry little creature saw its shadow, the TV anchor gets supernaturally sucked into a scenario where winds up repeating that exact same day in a constant loop, which is when the hilarity and several heartwarming lessons begin.

Throughout what he considers to be imprisonment in typical small-town U.S.A. with a new associate producer named Rita (Phoebe Gonzalez), Phil’s rut runs the gamut of philandering, philosophizing and philanthropy, ultimately ditching his doldrums for a total attitude change (not all that different from Murray’s lead role revival in “Scrooged”).

A welcome side effect of the show is its ability to serve as a light-hearted elixir for audiences who may be suffering from pandemic fatigue, which despite the progress that’s been made, can’t help but feel like an unfortunate repeat of the prior year.

Thankfully, “Groundhog Day: The Musical” is stuffed with enough to forget it all,
especially as its main man comes to the realization that he’s going to keep reliving the same day until he gets it right, which can be just as relatable for any crowd that’s likely to keep laughing alongside all the craziness.

“Groundhog Day: The Musical” continues at the Paramount Theatre through Sunday, March 13. For additional details, visit ParamountAurora.com.