| A dissenting opinion on Illinoise | |
| Posted by: theaterbear 08:33 am EDT 05/16/24 | |
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| Just back from a theater trip. Saw 5 shows: Stereophonic, Tommy, Outsiders, Merrily, and Illinoise. I was really looking forward to Illinoise. I come from a ballet background, liked Contact, LOVED Movin’ Out, and was ready for this to blow me away. It decidedly didn’t. I went in not knowing the music, the artist, or the plot. The music was gorgeous and performed beautifully. The choreography and plot is what lost me. I found the choreography frantic, repetitive, and it never got off the ground enough to let the dancers soar. There wasn’t a single piece that grabbed me in the way “Shameless” did in Movin’ Out, or excite me as much as Contact’s “Simply Irresistible” The tap number probably came closest. SPOILERS ahead - As far as the plot goes - it’s Cats. Unrelated stories until the one story you’re supposed to really care about happens - but in this one The Heavyside Layer is cancer and a cat pushes Grizabella into the flying tire and takes her redemption story instead. I should mention, I am a person currently fighting cancer so I get very prickly about it being used as a dramatic device or catalyst to send a character on a journey. It’s incredibly overdone and hack at this point. That could have been a part of why I was so turned off. But honestly, the main character abandons his friend - who is literally reaching for him for support and to come with him in a time of need, then the friend kills himself as a result of the grief - but it made a good campfire story so all is forgiven? Let’s dance! Ick. |
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