I understand your reaction to MILK AND HONEY; I had seen it at Musicals Tonight several years ago and reacted the same way you did to the York production. But, for whatever reason, MILK AND HONEY worked for me at the York; I even saw it twice, knowing it's not a show we get to see very often. I've always been fond of Herman's score, which is almost operatic at times, but quite beautiful. The adult romance was touching, as were the choices the younger characters were facing. And, I join you in congratulating Jim Morgan for giving theatergoers a chance to see shows that otherwise wouldn't be done any more.
I very much agree with you about the MACK AND MABEL score - it is outstanding. But, and unfortunately it's a big but, the book just doesn't work. I've seen over the years three different M & M productions, all with revised books in one form or another. As a fan of the score and of Herman's work, I very much want the whole show to live up to the promise of its score, but it doesn't. The fifteen to twenty minutes we got this weekend in HEY LOOK ME OVER were magical; but the whole show just isn't (IMO) as good or worthy as that segment makes it appear. All that said, I'd welcome the chance to see it again via a full Encores mounting. |
