| re: I saw a satisfying production at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ | |
| Posted by: jmill 05:33 pm EST 01/30/18 | |
| In reply to: I saw a satisfying production at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ - NJGUY 01:16 pm EST 01/30/18 | |
|
|
|
| The production at the York includes the revisions made by Laurents for the George Street Production. I saw the original HALLELUJAH BABY on Broadway; I was a college freshman at the time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Leslie Uggams, Lillian Hayman, and the cast were superb. It was fifty years ago, so I don't remember it all that vividly. But, as you can see on the You Tube video of the title song when it was performed on the "Ed Sullivan Show," there was some sizzle in the production, plus some fine dancing. The Mufti productions understandably don't have much dancing or production value - they rely on the score and the book. The revision resulted in some song cuts and other songs added (including the very good "When the Weather's Better"), but the best songs remain. The cast at the York is excellent, led by a powerhouse performance by Stephanie Umoh and the wonderful Vivian Reed. As for the book, during the first act, the show did not feel like it had aged well. Watching some of the early scenes through the lens of where we are today was uncomfortable at times. All that makes the missing production elements, which are no fault of the York, feel more problematic. But, for me and the people I was with, Act Two worked very well, starting with the lovely "Talking To Yourself," and highlighted by a trio of truly winning numbers: the title song, the wisful "Not Mine," effectively sung in this version by both Harvey and Clem, and culminating in a showstopping "I Don't Know Where She Got It," which the delightful Ms. Reed sings in her own stylized, jazzy manner; it is the evening's high point and a real crowd pleaser. Ms. Reed also joins Ms. Umoh in a reprise of "My Own Morning" which is quite touching and a nice addition to the show. The show, which originally ended in the '60s, now has been updated to end in 2004. The changes made for an effective and dramatically involving Act Two, closing with the cast reprising "When the Weather's Better." I enjoyed seeing HALLELUJAH BABY once again, even with its Act One book issues. It makes an attempt to portray racial issues through the 20th century in the US in a musical and without being too preachy. It may not all work perfectly, some of it may not have aged well, but the music still shines, the performers deliver, and the show entertains. The choreography from the original is missed in spots, but the revisions end up improving the show, especially the further it goes along. You're unlikely to get a lot of chances to see HALLELUJAH BABY, so if you've had interest in this show, a visit to the York could be worth your while. |
|
| reply | |
|
|
|
| Previous: | re: I saw this the other night - PlayWiz 11:40 am EST 02/02/18 |
| Next: | re: I saw a satisfying production at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ - bmc 09:21 pm EST 01/30/18 |
| Thread: |
|
Time to render: 0.008241 seconds.