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re: TB REGIONAL REVIEW: "THE LAST GOODBYE" in SAN DIEGO

Posted by:	chrisampm 10:56 pm EDT 10/16/13
In reply to:	TB REGIONAL REVIEW: "THE LAST GOODBYE" in SAN DIEGO - T.B._Admin. 09:38 pm EDT 10/09/13

I respectfully disagree. The show seems a misbegotten attempt to follow in Spring Awakening's footsteps. But there, the book and score was blended. Here, though the classic text is reduced to basic plot points and the greatest poetic bits, it's still Shakespeare. So the songs rarely heighten the book scenes. Buckley was beloved by his audience less for his songwriting skills than for his wonderful voice. Armstrong does justice to the ballads. But no one here comes close to the searing effect of Buckley's originals. And the group numbers, which use Buckley's generic rock songs, suffer terribly. Timbers's direction shows that the cleverness he's exhibited in other shows doesn't deepen when it needs to in a more serious work like this. The star-crossed lovers consummate their love surrounded by the Friar's band of brothers in a bewildering staging that evokes Eyes Wide Shut. Romeo preps the poison while singing Wait in the Fire, but Timbers has him wading in water evoking Jeff Buckley's death in a way that distracts. Yes, most songs are well-placed by Schimmel but the verses to the finale, Hallelujah have nothing to do with the action. I agree that the design is wonderful and the leads are very good. But that's not enough to keep this from being a large disappointment.

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