Thus is the basis for William Finn’s Falsettos, a most unusual musical that is actually two musicals written ten years apart that became merged into one. But it is also one of the few that is able to pack in so much sidesplitting humor with so many truly poignant moments. Not poignant moments that seem contrived just to evoke emotion, but ones that are filled with believable and easily relatable situations, which are beautifully woven into this remarkable story. It also has lots of great music, and Director Tim Irving’s production features a cast that makes this musical soar as high as it should.

As Trina, Melissa Supera-Fernandes has the best role and makes the most of it, from her shock and then murderous anger at having to share her home with her husband’s gay lover, to her hysterical sleepy and confused response to being awoken by her psychiatrist proposing to her and the jealous response that gets from her husband. Melissa’s strong singing voice belts out a moving rendition of Holding to the Ground, which she sings after the family realizes that Something Bad is Happening to Whizzer. For this is 1981 and the terrifying beginning to the AIDS epidemic, just before anyone knew what was happening.

As Whizzer, the golden-voiced Warren G. Nolan, Jr. knocks out his solo The Games I Play and delivers a stirring You Gotta Die Sometime. Other standouts include Andy Collins as a hilarious psychiatrist who desperately wants to break his oath about doctor-patient relationships, if Trina will only let him. Jon Levenson does a fine job as the father who smugly brings home his new lover, gets jealous when his wife starts seeing the psychiatrist, and then grows scared along with Whizzer when things go wrong. Matthew Bohrer demonstrates strong voice, stage presence, and comedic skill as the highly adaptable son. While Susan Hammons and Sandy Campbell add their lovely voices along with several moments of comedy and drama as the two “lesbians next door.”