Thank you for that laser sharp specificity. The first report to explain what doesn't work, beyond "too much dancing," or "the book scenes seem neglected." This presentational aspect, sometimes a hallmark of tours or old school summer theater, used to be the result of short rehearsal time, a show broken down with ensemble work given the most attention, book scenes added or at least staged so independently that an organic concept didn't happen until/unless stars stitch the show together, once on its feet. I have actor friends who describe that way of working. In this case, fully documented: Jackman working alone for months -- all that footage we've seen -- and in tandem with large production numbers, certainly supports this phenom.
Perhaps Zaks approved, because it worked for Midler, who managed to do two things at once: play Dolly, and play Bette-playing-Dolly. The star could move in and out of 4th wall breaking mode and satisfy almost everyone. But Music Man challenges in different ways: Hill's charisma has to work magic on the other players. We have to see the town transform under his tutelage, not only feel the actor mastering a triple threat requirement. So a performance pitched to the house leaves everyone else playing the script and not what's happening on stage.
Yeah, "too much dancing" -- posted repeatedly -- seems to support this. A well-oiled machine without on-stage connections between actors can end up ... a machine. |
