| A Strange Loop and Fat Ham | |
| Last Edit: DistantDrumming 02:29 am EDT 08/21/22 | |
| Posted by: DistantDrumming 02:26 am EDT 08/21/22 | |
|
|
|
| It's probably a bit reductive to compare the two shows, but A Strange Loops and Fat Ham undeniably have some common themes and threads -- from their protagonists' journey to their family dynamics to their centering of Black, queer identity and their smart use of an ensemble to navigate painful trauma through humor -- and, of course, both won the Pulitzer Prize. I saw Fat Ham its closing weekend and A Strange Loop this weekend. While I certainly appreciated a lot of what Strange Loop offered -- most especially the way in which Jackson's script unapologetically spoke first and foremost to its lead character's identity and experience (some of the references definitely went over some of the audiences' head); as well as the incredibly talented ensemble of 'Thoughts' who injected so much humor and humanity and who, at times, elevated the serviceable score with their raw musical talent. But, I think the book/spoken dialogue was much stronger than the score. I am VERY interested in seeing future plays and screenplays from Jackson. Musical theatre scores? Less so. My impression is that he's a decent lyricist and a pretty uninspired composer. His pedestrian pop-rock sound was surprisingly repetitive and dull and his lyrics were occasionally clever, but just as often clunky and inartful. I think this would have been a much stronger show if a more talented composer had been hired and, perhaps, if Jackson also had a co-lyricist. All that said, I can't deny that it is exciting that a "big, Black and queer-ass American Broadway" show has such a high profile -- even if I don't find myself as smitten with the piece as the majority of critics. By contrast, I thought Fat Ham was a flat out masterpiece -- I'm still thinking about it weeks later. The way in which James Ijames, Saheem Ali and that insanely talented ensemble absolutely lacerated homophobia and toxic masculinity through riotous humor while acknowledging the true trauma that many gay and queer Black people experience in their families and in the broader world made the play a total knockout for me! (By the way, I've read all the reports of being unable to make out 90% of the lyrics at A Strange Loop. The sound design was far from perfect, but I only very occasionally had difficulty picking up a lyric or two and that was almost when the entire ensemble was singing overlapping phrases. I was seated in front, center mezzanine.) |
|
| reply | |
|
|
|
| Previous: | re: THE HISTORY BOYS: Timeline Theatre (Chicago) .......a different set of Boys - IThespis 08:37 am EDT 08/25/22 |
| Next: | re: A Strange Loop and Fat Ham - GrumpyMorningBoy 07:52 pm EDT 08/23/22 |
| Thread: |
|
Time to render: 0.037171 seconds.