In the world of iconic film and TV nannies, none stand quite as singular as Euphegenia Doubtfire, with her groovy dance moves, wild cooking skills, and much more to her than meets the eye. The character has delighted families since the release of the film Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, starring Robin Williams and Sally Fields.
Broadway in Boston presents the new musical comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire” at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, from Sept. 9 to 21, kicking off the 2025-2026 season. Originally premiering on Broadway in 2020, the show came to Boston as part of its American national tour.
The musical follows Daniel Hillard (Craig Alan Smith), a well-meaning but childish father whose wife, Miranda (Melissa Campbell), divorces him out of frustration with his antics. In response, Hillard takes on the alter ego of Mrs. Doubtfire, an elderly Scottish nanny, in order to see his children: Lydia (Alanis Sophia), Christopher (Theodore Lowenstein), and Natalie (Ava Rose Doty), learning more about fatherhood and family along the way.
As an adaptation, the set design and costuming pay homage to the time period of the film, especially in the setting of the house and Mrs. Doubtfire’s outfits, reminiscent of the 90’s when “Mrs Doubtfire” was set. The show does, in one case, decisively break from that, in that it includes technology like iPads and smartphones. In one scene, the three children are sitting on the couch refusing to do their homework in favor of being on their devices, but their outfits, the furniture, and the wallpaper around them all suggest that they exist in the 1990s. Such a choice was likely made to blend the two adaptations, but ended up causing the technology to appear out of place.
If the show wasn’t meant to be modernized, I wish that the technology had been left out to truly immerse the audience in the world of the 90’s. Or, on the other hand, if the show was meant to be in the 2020s, the costumes and setting should have reflected that.
The alterations to the story allowed for explicit LGBTQ representation in the form of Daniel’s brother, Frank Hillard (Brian Kalinowski), and his husband Andre (Devon Wycovia Buchanan), a plot point previously only hinted at in the film. The further modern addition of Miranda Hillard being a fashion designer, as her job isn’t specified in the film, gave her character more agency and nuance by showing the friction between her passion for her career and being a newly single mom. This addition added to the stakes of the plot, as Daniel’s antics as Mrs. Doubtfire often butt heads with the career goals and relationships that Miranda tries to embark on, creating wonderfully funny tension for the audience.
Smith’s performance as Daniel Hillard captivated the crowd from his first scene on the stage, jumping from an impression of Kermit the Frog to Mickey Mouse to Darth Vader. He constantly displayed his immense talents for impressions and voice acting, delighting audiences with his slapstick physicality. His portrayal was clearly inspired by the iconic performance of Robin Williams in the film, but it differed enough to allow the adaptation to shine on its own rather than copy the movie. He delivered the deep emotional beats of the show with equal talent, presenting audiences with a well-rounded portrayal of the hapless but devoted Hillard.
His talent only expands in his portrayal of Mrs. Doubtfire. Though the silicone mask took a moment to adjust visually, Smith didn’t miss a beat as he switched from Daniel to Doubtfire, managing the transition on stage multiple times throughout the number “He Lied to Me” during which his true identity is ultimately revealed.
Amid the high-energy musical numbers and raucous on-stage antics, the core of the musical is togetherness. Mrs. Doubtfire, due to Daniel’s job at a TV station, becomes a beloved children’s show character. As part of one of her episodes, she says that love is what matters most within a family. She emphasizes that families can appear in multiple forms and all are valid if there is care and connection between the people involved. That sentiment was crucial for the film’s time and still is for our own, as the need to practice empathy for one another is more important than ever.
That message resonated with the story’s new musical audience just as much as the film’s original crowd and opening night drew a full house with audience members of all ages. Given its long-lasting popularity, it is no wonder “Mrs Doubtfire” is one of the latest in an uptick in movie-to-musical adaptations, others being similar classics like “Pretty Woman,” premiering as a musical in 2018, and “The Notebook,” premiering in 2024. Nostalgia has found a secure place in the development of new musicals, giving fans a new way to look at old favorites.
The crowd shot to their feet to applaud during curtain call, making it clear that the story still connects across generations. In an age of constant societal divides, the show reminds us that we are truly stronger when we are united, both in family and in our love of musical theatre. Those are the ties that bind.
