Having seen the original, Lisa Kirk was wonderful. A true, brilliant, professional. However, her role is superfluous to the story. Her character never connects to any other. ‘Tap Your Troubles Away’ could have been done without knowing who the lead singer is. In addition, Lotti is supposed to be a top box office draw, how do we know this? One of the characters flat out tells us. Not having seen the touring version, with Tommy Tune replacing Lisa Kirk, I can’t think of anything about the part that would need to be rewritten.
What doesn’t work in all this are its second act trouble. Question for anyone who does not know the story of the Normand scandal or the musical, did you know what was going on during ‘Tap Your Troubles Away?’ I don’t think that I would have known, not having known.
I was there for yesterday’s talk back. Learned something from a questioner in the audience. Mack & Mabel is a tragic love story, yet the two never have a duet. I had worn out my LP from use as I love the score. I had never realized that the two lovers at the center of the story never sing together and that’s indicative of why M&M doesn’t work. |
