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 |
