Saw last night's show at MCC.
Woof. Ruff indeed.
This show wants to be equal parts "[title of show]," "Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," and "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" - but falls short across the board. The performances are kinda cute, mostly grating. The music is generally sung over recorded instrumentals (even when the two performers are accompanying themselves on guitar or keyboard), which is both extremely disappointing and saps the energy of the entire affair. Weak direction, filled with bits that are simultaneously boring while trying way too hard? The pace, likely to quicken, is leaden as it currently stands.
Those wary of audience participation, beware. They make you clap. Often. When the audience inevitably stops clapping along, the energy is sapped back to its constant low.
Ugly scenic design but fun video and projection design.
Overall, a strange project: the passion to tell this story is clear, but it's never once apparent why we should care. Also, strangely anti-American and pro-USSR? We are actually asked to celebrate Soviet scientists ... because they sent dogs to die in space? Or maybe I was reading too much into it while trying to fill the time. At 100 minutes, it felt much - much - longer. |
