13

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 2:59am

I saw "13" last night.

I'm a huge Jason Robert Brown fan. I Loved "Parade," I was one of the few people who actually saw "Songs From a New World" (which I loved), and I loved "The Last 5 Years" as well.

I did not enjoy "13".

While I think Brown's work was terrific, the show didn't work.

If you want to make a point about 13 year olds, in musical theatre, you should look BACK on it. You should do what Craig Carnelia did with "Is There Life After High School".

There WAS a show here. Brown's music was terrific. I felt like it just missed. Plot wise. I'm a 40 year old man who saw possibilities in "High School Musical." But I didn't get "13".

When I was a kid, I saw Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along". I was 13, then. To me, this was a show that said "Hey, I'm a kid! And I can BE something!" Which was amazing. I could be either Franklin Shephard, or Charlie Kringus, or Mary. They all had points. "13" said "I'm stuck in the midwest, and I can't be anything. If only I had grown up in New York."

"13" was a downer. It said "I'm either popular, or I'm not, or I'm a cripple."

None of which moves any kid. Or the plot of the show.

I know Jason Robert Brown is better than this. I'm not sure why he chose to do this. But there's a better show in him than this one.

Jason Robert Brown, you wrote "Stars and the Moon," which is probably the best musical theatre song EVER written, Sondheim inclusive.

You can do better than this. You are the future of American Musical Theatre.

Please do it. We're counting on you.









Updated On: 10/2/08 at 02:59 AM

[rich.hanson59]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 6:42am

It isn't trying to move teens. It's showing what life as a teenager is like. "I'm either popular, or I'm not" that's what being a teenager is.

But I am glad you liked the music, because a lot of people here said they hated it, and I personally love the score. :)

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 6:45am

^^^
Exactly!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 6:45am

double post

Updated On: 10/2/08 at 06:45 AM

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 7:19am

"I'm either popular, or I'm not" that's what being a teenager is."

Really I was teen not that long ago and I don't really remember it being that bad.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 7:33am

Did they cut out the intermission because at 9:40 tonight during "Billy Elliot" intermission, it seemed that "13" was done for the evening already. It had an intermission 2 weeks ago when I saw it.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 9:08am

I also think that in real life Evan likely would have been popular right away just because he transferred from a glamorous big city to a small town.

Not saying it would have lasted, but...

[jake6970]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 3:39pm

well Evan isn't ever actually a geek...right off the bat he manipulates people to make sure he's popular. He makes sure he's well liked before he has the chance to not be, I guess.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/2/08 at 3:46pm

my good friend saw it last night and said he enjoyed most of the music but the show just seemed to go downhill after the first few songs. Especially the book. He said there is a number in the show about a character on crutches (?) that would most likely die. He said it was funny but in kind of bad taste all at once.