| re: The Band's Visit, A Study in Boredom | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 08:04 am EST 01/05/18 | |
| In reply to: The Band's Visit, A Study in Boredom - Singapore/Fling 12:20 am EST 01/05/18 | |
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| So sorry that you didnt respond to this show. I had seen it at Atlantic, and like it quite a bit, but didn't think it was 'big' enough for Broadway. Seeing it on Broadway I realized (imho) that I was wrong. This beautiful, small story, based on a beautiful small film, give us a very quiet look at some quite engaging and interesting people. And its about the cultural/political divide in the Middle East. And some of the best performances on Broadway. It's not, on the other hand, a show that is going to reach out and grab you in the way that many contemporary musicals do. WELCOME TO THE ROCK, the opening of COME FROM AWAY is one of many examples of the modern musical that opens by shouting at you and forcing you to pay attention. BTW, CFA does this very well, and a good show follows. But its not the only way. Or perhaps the best way. So many of our greatest musicals open in a very simple way - 'Dites moi' opens SOUTH PACIFIC; 'Loverly' opens MY FAIR LADY; 'I wonder what the king is doing tonight' opens CAMELOT; 'Oh what a beautful morning' (offstage) opens OKLAHOMA. The quiet joys and humanity of THE BANDS VISIT are what make it important to me. Back in the mists of time, Gilbert & SUllivan shocked London in YEOMAN OF THE GUARD by not opening with a big chorus, as all operettas and operas seemed to. Just as R&H staked out new territory in OKLAHOMA with an opening (offstage) song, rather than a chorus. After all, the first great book musical, SHOW BOAT, opens with the chorus number 'Cotton Blossom', not with 'Ol Man River' as you might mistakenly think. A long way around saying, I am very sorry you didn;t respond to THE BANDS VISIT. The night I saw it on Broadway, a gent sitting down the row from me had the same experience you did. I found the show not earnest, but truthful and thoughtful. Chacun a son gout. |
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| Previous: | re: The Band's Visit, A Study in Boredom - ntjvy 08:14 am EST 01/05/18 |
| Next: | what version of MFL and Camelot have you seen? - Chazwaza 03:12 am EST 01/07/18 |
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