BLACK NO MORE Reviews- Page 2

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/17/22 at 5:27pm

This show has many issues, but I agree that Scott Elliott is at the core of many of the most fundamental ones. While I agree with Joevitus that the director didn't necessarily HAVE to be Black, the show needed a director who understood the Afrofutirst genre on a deeper lever. A director who would help mold and shape the tone of the show, to form a clear cohesive vision for the satirical/fantastical world of the play, a consistent directorial language for everyone (artists + audience) to be on the same page. 

Elliott seemed too focused on putting up a sleek, polished, Broadway-ready production than he was in actually DIRECTING the material. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/17/22 at 5:32pm

That was more-so my point. He just doesn't seem like the BEST choice of a director. Give me a Thomas Kail or an Alex Timbers even who might have understood the tone of the show more. The design and direction seem misguided.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/17/22 at 6:31pm

There are plenty of white directors who would have done a better job with this material (Paulus, Warchus, Kail, Timbers, Sher, Marianne Elliott) and maybe one appropriate Black director with a good track record (George Wolfe).

I don't think it's the worst thing in the world if the Producer and Director are white when the bookwriter, 4 composer/lyricists, choreographer, MD and Music Supervisor are all Black. It's a balance, and if they're aiming for Broadway then they know that reaching to a wealthy white audience is essential.

The bigger issue for me was not race, but gender: Jenn Damiano and the other female roles are so abysmally written, and those aspects almost certainly would have been better with women in high-ranking positions on the production.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/17/22 at 10:00pm

JBroadway said: "This show has many issues, but I agree that Scott Elliott is at the core of many of the most fundamental ones. While I agree with Joevitus that the director didn't necessarily HAVE to be Black, the show needed a director who understood the Afrofutirst genre on a deeper lever. A director who would help mold and shape the tone of the show, to form a clear cohesive vision for the satirical/fantastical world of the play, a consistent directorial language for everyone (artists + audience) to be on the same page.

Elliott seemed too focused on putting up a sleek, polished, Broadway-ready production than he was in actually DIRECTING the material."

I stand by my opinion that his take on the material is very Kander and Ebb (mainly the Chicago revival) and while it works in some parts, it's not a strong enough vision for the whole show and the choreography does a lot of heavy lifting. 

As for the female characters, I've said my peace on Helen (Damiano's character). There are issues with Sissereta and Buni as well but they are fixable unlike Helen's character which needs to be completely rethought. Granted, as well as Tamika sings it, Buni's whole non-romantic love song about the importance of being a self-sacrificing supporting character is definitely a choice. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/17/22 at 11:43pm

VintageSnarker said: "Buni's whole non-romantic love song about the importance of being a self-sacrificing supporting character is definitely a choice."

 

I interpreted it as being more about the PRESSURES of being expected to be the sacrificing supporter. But maybe I misread it - I don't remember the lyrics that well. FWIW, that was probably my favorite song in the show, musically speaking, and in terms of the performance. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/18/22 at 1:58am

Do we think these reviews killed its momentum or will they listen and rework the material and maybe take it out of town first? 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/18/22 at 5:58pm

JBroadway said: "I interpreted it as being more about the PRESSURES of being expected to be the sacrificing supporter. But maybe I misread it - I don't remember the lyrics that well. FWIW, that was probably my favorite song in the show, musically speaking, and in terms of the performance."

It's certainly open to interpretation but I felt like it lampshaded the problem without solving it until Buni's decision action towards the end. But still, it never quite becomes her story even when she steps in as "the hero." If the show wanted to leave its more problematic characters behind, I wish it would have done that sooner. I think this also hints at some of the basic issues where even though there's a pretty big cast, you get stuck on the leads. I can see the argument of why they thought they needed to get Max to speak out to reverse the problems with Black No More but the logic was still pretty flimsy and made me very aware I was watching a play with a clear protagonist. 

 

[BWayBabe]

Posted: 2/20/22 at 8:29pm

Saw this production after reading reviews on here. Here are my thoughts:

I will start by saying the piece has so much potential to be great. It really does. This is why I am taking the time to write my thoughts in hopes that someone will actually read them.

Contrary to views expressed here, I actually thought Black Thought was one of the highlights of the show as his character was reserved and mysterious and his facility with language was exceptional. His character felt more in the world of Shakespeare than in Musical theatre and that's probably why some criticized his performance. I wish he had more interactions throughout the story.

They needed a black director. Sorry, not sorry. I immediately thought of Liesl Tommy, Robert O'Hara, even Patricia Mcgregor. This piece really needed someone familiar with satire, racial nuances, stage dimensions, and depth that could really bring out the story. They needed someone to tell the writers and choregrapher NO.  I simply don't understand why a black director was not hired. The direction and stage felt very flat visually. The design of the stage needed another level to add dimension to the choreography which at times felt like it was a college dance recital. I love Bill T Jones but he needed a director with a vision that could say... 'no, this movement does not serve this story at this moment... pull it back'. They needed more thought-through designs. A skilled black director could have meant better reviews and ultimately more profits with commercial success. Why does the establishment not understand this?

 

As far as the plot and book. I will start by saying I don't know the novel. But the second act should have been centered around the birth of the child. Because the significance of the baby is that once she gives birth to the baby the truth will come out that Max is black. That's where I thought the story was heading but instead they made the white female lead into a martyr by killing her. And when she died we felt nothing mostly because her character was written all over the place. I had zero interest in wanting to hear her sing songs about love or to even like her. In fact, the actress playing that role has the typical beautiful musical theater leading lady look to her and I would have preferred if they focused solely on making her an antagonist. Instead, they gave her a song about her desires?

The role of Buni also pissed me off because I never knew if she and Max had any sort of romantic relationship. She wore pants most of the show and seemed quite masculine. Was this intentional? If so I missed the purpose. The actress who played her is no doubt is extremely talented, however...  I am over the trope of black women having to belt the highest do all the work and take on the burden and never get the love. Where was her LOVE?

"Whats a sister/ brother to do" - THIS SONG NEEDS TO BE CUT... too repetitive too long and meaningless.

If Agamemnon is supposed to represent a black radical countering this race-changing device... then by God they sure positioned him to be weak. He needs more of a story.

 

This musical had three endings. All actions that happened after the death of the lead was unnecessary. The Dr should not have been killed off. I think it would have been more interesting if he somehow became otherworldly and his evils ended the show in the modern day.

 

What was the message of this piece? It needs more focus... At the moment it reads as A 'Howard Man' black elitist causing destruction to his own people? But white supremacy is really the biggest monster and we walk away from the show not really knowing THAT... but instead making the Dr the monster.

 

 

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 2/20/22 at 9:22pm

BWayBabe said: "That's where I thought the story was heading but instead they made the white female lead into a martyr by killing her. And when she died we felt nothing mostly because her character was written all over the place. [...] I would have preferred if they focused solely on making her an antagonist. Instead, they gave her a song about her desires?"

Yup

"The role of Buni also pissed me off because I never knew if she and Max had any sort of romantic relationship. She wore pants most of the show and seemed quite masculine. Was this intentional? If so I missed the purpose. The actress who played her is no doubt is extremely talented, however... I am over the trope of black women having to belt the highest do all the work and take on the burden and never get the love. Where was her LOVE?"

I thought I was imagining it but since someone else noticed it, yes, if Buni has some kind of queer coding it's weird that the show ends by giving her a baby that she raises with Agamemnon. And also has her collapse hysterically into his arms after she takes her decisive action against Crookman.

If Agamemnon is supposed to represent a black radical countering this race-changing device... then by God they sure positioned him to be weak. He needs more of a story.

To simplify, I think he was supposed to be a bit of an ineffective academic. All talk, no action and too poetic and preachy to reach people. 

This musical had three endings. All actions that happened after the death of the lead was unnecessary. The Dr should not have been killed off. I think it would have been more interesting if he somehow became otherworldly and his evils ended the show in the modern day.


What was the message of this piece? It needs more focus... At the moment it reads as A 'Howard Man' black elitist causing destruction to his own people? But white supremacy is really the biggest monster and we walk away from the show not really knowing THAT... but instead making the Dr the monster."

I liked avoiding the Little Shop of Horrors ending and I feel like it was trying to be hopeful by focusing on how the next generation was raised. Are you saying that Crookman was the elitist or Max? I'd say Max is mercenary and too obsessed with pursuing Helen. I do think they need to clarify what was going on with Crookman (besides the Faust/devil stuff) especially when he came back and wrote the check and they were having that secret meeting because that part felt muddled.