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re: What's the status of SOFT POWER?
Posted by: BillyG 01:07 pm EST 11/30/18
In reply to: re: What's the status of SOFT POWER? - showtunetrivia 11:37 am EST 11/30/18

We went to the opening of COME FROM AWAY and loved it. I think it would be even more powerful in a smaller theatre, but what a show.

I was disappointed in the LA Times review by Charles McNaulty. What a snarky jaded perspective.

What did you think of it?
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re: What's the status of SOFT POWER?
Posted by: Chazwaza 05:03 am EST 12/01/18
In reply to: re: What's the status of SOFT POWER? - BillyG 01:07 pm EST 11/30/18

Not liking Come From Away is not a crime or offense... I saw it on broadway with the original cast in a smaller theater than the Ahmanson... and I didn't think it was good. I understand enjoying it, but it didn't do it for me and I also don't think it's well made in really any aspect, but most offensive are the unmemorable score and a book that has very little in the way of original scenes, unique characters, real emotion or dramatic stakes.
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re: What's the status of SOFT POWER?
Posted by: showtunetrivia 10:19 pm EST 11/30/18
In reply to: re: What's the status of SOFT POWER? - BillyG 01:07 pm EST 11/30/18

I agree a smaller theatre would help; few shows can manage the cavernous Ahmanson.

We enjoyed it a lot. I knew the score (and much of the story) well, and I have a trunk novel that I set partly in Newfoundland. So I was pretty familiar with the culture and music.

I think it's a solid, original show, well-performed, and with a message we need in the world today. The historian in me admires Sankoff and Hein's distillation of hundreds of hours of stories into a coherent theatrical piece. That said, I don't think it's a truly great show. There's a sameness to a good deal of the music and the storytelling got disjointed at times. One of the best songs, the Captain's "Me and the Sky," stands out oddly because no other characters get to reveal their histories in such detail--and it is a true ensemble piece. My daughter the wouldbe-dramaturg and I were discussing it after, and felt if Capt. Beverly had had more of a relationship with one of the Gander townsfolk (as did the two moms with firefighter sons), the song would have fit better. But singing it to the audience only made us think, "Nice song, but why?"

But yes, we generally were pleased. We had a better time than Mr. McNulty.

We also were pleased to see SoCal native Megan McGinnis as the animal shelter worker. We're good friends with a woman (who, in an odd coincidence, works for a pet rescue company; we got our Hotspur from her) and her best friend is Megan's mom, whom I've met twice and she's a lovely lady. So we cheered extra for her.

Laura
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