I saw both a B'way preview of the original, and the revised show at Papermill, where it was well sung but none of the issues were addressed about the storytelling. The show always seemed unable to start. We'd begin with this great soaring music marking the arrival on Ellis, a wonderful "I Want" song, and then the story proper couldn't jump start in act one. Rebecca, as mentioned here, seemed to be putting out fires, not making decisions or driving her own fate. Even if that's the immigrant experience (indeed "Children of the Wind"), a protagonist needs to make things happen against mounting obstacles. It was the flaw in the construction, no matter how solid the individual beats, even those that cued the (wonderful) songs. And the story was cluttered with characters.
I love the score dearly, and play that overture every 4th of July. It's as right for that day as 1776. |
