Anyone who's seen the staging of the original Broadway production sees that they attempted to present three very distinct stories with three distinct groups of people, and Mother, Coalhouse and Tateh become the protagonists of each of those stories.
But having seen the original cast in NYC, I have to say that it certainly felt like it was Coalhouse's musical.
This may have been because Brian Stokes Mitchell gave such a breakout performance, but it's also aided by the fact that he and Sarah get the most music.
-- feel free to go look at the track list of the show. Coalhouse and Sarah's plot gets the most music. ---
Not that Marin Mazzie or Peter Friedman weren't also terrific. Ms. Mazzie's "Back to Before" is an undeniable highlight. But I don't think Tateh's quiet moments can begin to compete with Coalhouse's loud ones, and by the time we're midway through the second act, it's certainly Coalhouse's story to drive toward a climax and resolution.
Chazwaza I so often agree with you, but I don't in this one. I do love Mother's journey, and I have a sister who was most moved by Mother's story above all, but I really think the writers threw their spotlight on Coalhouse.
- GMB |
