| Well, as a friend used to say, that's why they make vanilla and chocolate. I find the original book well crafted and charming, and I am very interested in the story of Albert and Rosie -especially if, as in the OBC, they are played by performers of great charisma and appeal. The show has a little craft trick in that the "I want" song, An English Teacher, comes first and the natural opening number, The Telephone Hour, comes after. Works for me. I find Albert and Rosie a much easier pair for the audience to relate to. To me, if The Telephone Hour actually opened the show, with its manic teens, it would be off-putting. I agree that the subplot about speeding up the Russian ballet is silly and unfunny. |
