By Fern Siegel (posted 11/21/24)

For anyone familiar with the evangelical scandals of the 1980s, Tammy and Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart are well-known.

The latter two preached fire and brimstone — and their demonizing of liberals and feminists was their calling card. Hell hath no fury like a preacher scorned. Into this world of sin and condemnation came the Bakkers. And to many evangelicals, they were a revelation, promising heavenly rewards and earthly riches.

Unlike other electric church pastors, they preached a prosperity gospel, an upbeat belief that, thanks to satellite TV, fueled millions into their PTL (Praise the Lord) ministry, Christian-themed Heritage Park and personal bank accounts. The Bakkers lived lavishly. (A lifestyle shared by Falwell (Michael Cerveris), who had Liberty University underwrite his excesses and a political alliance with Ronald Reagan to help protect him from later investigations.)

The centerpiece of their televangelism was Tammy Faye (Katie Brayben) — whose life in the public eye is now a Broadway musical at the Palace Theater.

Direct from its Olivier-winning run in London, Tammy Faye, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Jake Shears, presents a sympathetic portrait of a woman whose life is the stuff of melodrama. She experienced rejection from a harsh, judgmental church as a child — and was determined to right that wrong.

Tammy Faye takes on a big subject, but fails to dig deeply. John’s music, which all sounds alike, is belted out at ear-shattering levels. Too often Broadway musicals play over the singer, which is the case here. And Brayben is worth hearing — her performance is intense, heartfelt and sincere.

The show chronicles their rise in the 1970s from itinerant preachers to TV superstars, and the scandals that destroyed them. Sadly, Tammy Faye devotes far too many numbers to faith, while neglecting the dark underbelly of these religious rock ’n’ rollers. The show is both too long and too little.  

At PTL, whose empire aroused the jealousy of their rivals, Jim (Christian Borle) ran the administration — and they appeared as a united couple. But it was Tammy’s open-heartedness, warmth and refusal to turn political that endeared her to followers. She had a PTL cooking show, talk show and a message of love and forgiveness that clicked. More comfortable in front of the camera than Jim, she even welcomed a gay pastor with AIDS in the 1980s with compassion.

But from great heights come great falls. Jim is accused of rape by church secretary Jessica Hawn, the government investigates the misuse of ministry funds, and Falwell swoops in to eliminate a rival.

Tammy Faye skims the surface of the Bakkers’ story, though as the 2021 movie The Eyes of Tammy Faye made clear, there is a compelling tale to tell. Director Rupert Goold keeps the action moving and Bunny Christie’s sets and Katrina Lindsay’s costumes reflect the era well.

Despite convincing performances by Brayben, Borle and Cerveris, who perfectly captures Falwell’s oily persona, the musical never finds its footing. It’s like watching an over-the-top episode of PTL, rather than revealing the uniquely American rags-to-riches tale that uses religion to power personal ambition.