If I had to sum up musical “If/Then” in a few words, they would be: sh*t happens, and Idina Menzel is absolutely spectacular.

I’m not the most knowledgeable on musicals and definitely not qualified to be a critic, but here is what I thought of this original Broadway production that is currently on tour.

The plot was complex and hard to follow for audience members (like me) who showed up with no prior knowledge of the story line. In short, there are two story lines that play out simultaneously; protagonist Elizabeth leads one life as “Liz,” and the other as “Beth.” Elizabeth, played by Menzel, is faced with a decision in the first few minutes of the show: either to grab coffee with her friend Kate, who suggests using the name “Liz,” or to spend time with college friend Lucas, who suggests using the name “Beth.” The show follows both potential paths and makes the audience consider the significance of every little decision and the consequent what-ifs in life. Although the majority of the first act was confusing for me, I pieced parts of the story together and grasped the concept of the musical, especially in the second act. It’s a great story with depth, and its originality is definitely laudable. The moral of the story was that everything that happens in life begins with a choice we make, and that some things don't happen exactly as planned. It reminds us that life happens as it happens.

I loved the simplistic set design and use of lighting and projection to enhance the visual performance. It took a little time for me to notice, but the color of the lights used on the backdrop is actually used to specify the storyline. When the scene is about Liz’s life, orange/red lights are used, whereas blue lights are used for scenes about Beth’s life. This color distinction was intended to help the audience follow the complex storyline, which did become helpful.

The songs were OK—some of them were not particularly to my taste, but all of them highlighted the spectacular vocals of the performers. Menzel’s ballads, especially in the second act, were particularly my favorite. The melody and range of the songs held a vague resemblance to Menzel’s famous solos from “Wicked,” and her added emotional energy made some of the songs memorable. LaChanze, who starred as Kate, also made some of the songs that were heavy in her solos very memorable. Her powerful vocals shook the theater, and she brought some needed spunk to the songs.

However, what really made this show the spectacle it was definitely has to be the cast, especially Idina Menzel and LaChanze. As a major “Wicked” fan and Elsa-lover, hearing Menzel’s voice live was an experience that was memorable and too amazing for words. She sang song after song with such ease and grace, and the aura she carried was one belonging to a true star. LaChanze, a Tony-award winner for her leading role in “The Color Purple,” also had vocals that captivated the audience. Her acting was also impeccable, and she brought her character, Kate, to life the most.

In conclusion, I loved "If/Then," the musical. It was my first time seeing an original, modern Broadway musical (I am more of a fairytale-lover such as "Wicked" and "The Lion King"), and although I was skeptical at first, I ended up loving the whole storyline. The characters were so real and had such depth, and the ending made the audience think about our own lives. And of course, everything Idina touches ends up being fantastic anyway.