Boop, boop a-doop

West 44th Street in Manhattan is having a moment. A brown girl moment.

Within the half block of Eighth Avenue and Schubert Alley, as of this writing, Audra McDonald is packing them into the Majestic Theater in a revival of “Gypsy;” Nicole Scherzinger is starring in a revival of “Sunset Boulevard” at the St. James Theater; Phylicia Rashad is directing “Purpose” at the Helen Hayes Theater; the musical based loosely on the life of Alicia Keys, “Hells Kitchen,” is still doing brisk business after a year at the Schubert Theater; and Jasmine Amy Rogers is burning the bandstand down as none other than Betty Boop at the Broadhurst Theater. 

I may be partial (full disclosure: I always liked Betty. From a child. She called to me; even when I couldn’t explain why, I knew there was something there), but I think Ms. Rogers has the hardest job in this group. As “Boop!” is a brand-new musical, there is no timeless score to rely on, and no pop star hits to lean into. Every song she sings is new to us, so she has to sell it.

And sell it she does. 

She’s delightful. A revelation. Sassy, smart and cute as a button. Adorable. My inner 8-year-old was so. thoroughly. charmed.

Did I mention she can sing?? Sis can sing, y’all. 

When I found out that a). a Betty Boop musical was coming to Broadway and b). a black girl was starring in it, I was like: 

Say less.

Ima be there in a second.

I see this as proof that the universe has a sense of humor, see, cause Betty was black. 

Esther Jones, a black jazz singer in Harlem in the 1920s, is considered the inspiration for Ms. Boop. Ms. Jones originated the scat sounds and high-pitched vocal style that caught the attention of several white performers, who then used (*cough* stole *cough*) those techniques themselves. Max Fleischer turned her into a cartoon in 1930, and she became America’s favorite drawn sex symbol.

A photograph of Ms. Jones reveals a light-skinned woman with a cropped haircut. Put an image of Betty next to her, and you can see the resemblance. 

Watching Ms. Rogers step into this legacy was a joy. She throws her whole self into it, as Betty would. 

I see it as a reparation, of sorts. Ms. Jones may never have made it out of the Cotton Club, but an actress who looks like her brought her creation all the way to Broadway.

Ms. Jones would recognize this form of entertainment, tho, as something familiar to her time: a big, brassy musical that‘s not too serious, but stacked with seriously talented performers. Don’t think too hard about the plot. Enjoy the voices and the costumes and the very sweet love story (Ainsley Melham plays the dearest boyfriend; grown women and 8-year-old girls were showering him with that Beatles-sighting shriek by the end). It’s set in 2024, but its soul is very 1930s.

I read a review of the musical, and it chided the production for being not-all-that-sensical and big on product placement. And I rolled my (big, but not big as hers) eyes.

Bruh. At a time as dire and jittery as this, maybe the people need something that’s not that deep. Something with a wholesome message that’ll put a smile on their faces, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. I mean, I work in the news business, and I’m often the one fussing at friends to not tune out and self-medicate with silliness. But we all need a break sometimes. And those who provide breaks as delightful as this one are blessings.

As far as the plot not making a whole lot of sense...um, have you seen what passes for television lately? “The Bachelor” makes sense? Those housewives make sense?? Those knockoffs of bachelors and housewives all over Instagram and YouTube and TikTok make sense? Please. Betty makes more sense than that nonsense.

And miss me with the high-handed oh-this-is-a-merchandise-money-grab argument...

One word: Barbie.

I heard none of y’all be mad when her movie was generating think pieces in every magazine and driving hot takes on every talk show for a solid year. Don’t tell me Mattel didn’t cash in during all of that. 

I will not be made to feel bad about my Betty refrigerator magnet. 

Appreciate it for what it is: It’s just a good time, y’all. It’s not a long time, but it’s a damn good time. 

So if you’re in New York and you need to take a breath, please go support “Boop!“ — and let Ms. Rogers take your breath away. 

April, 2025