BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, final show thoughts...

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 12:05am

So, I finally saw Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackon tonight. I wanted to like this show so much but, what's the big deal? Can anyone sing me one tune from that show? Did anyone really care about any of the characters?
Updated On: 6/28/10 at 12:05 AM

[tourboi]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 12:12am

Sure. I still have "Populism! Yeah Yeah!" stuck in my head, as well as "I'm Not That Guy," "Ten Little Indians," to name a few.

Loved everything about it... and thought the introduction to DC ("Meanwhile back in Washington...") was brilliance.

Comedic gold, that show.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 12:53am

Hummability and identifiability sure are nice but they aren't the only criteria of merit. Bloody Bloody AJ is vivid, provocative, and fun. I'm glad it's brought its team well-deserved hosannas.

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:00am

Don't be misunderstood, I saw and got every bit of comedy. Seems like comedy for the tweeny year olds though. I will admit I did laugh a few times. Still can't remember any song or tune from it.

[dry2olives]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:05am

To answer your first question, I've had "Populism! Yeah Yeah!" stuck in my head for over a year now. And to answer your second, the character I cared the most for was the American people; a group that can still fall for an empty message wrapped in an attractive package.

[JP2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:15am

I saw it last Sunday and have been singing "Populism.." since.

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:21am

I loved this show and it also educated me on the some of the aspects of this presidents' life. I love a show that both educates and entertains.

Also have to agree that "I'm Not That Guy" & "Populism..." have stuck in my head.

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:30am

dry2olives, I guess you are right about the American people character. too bad most people who need to see this won't understand or get that concept the way you do(many people on this website will agree with you that they also understand the idea). Populism however, is not a novel concept except to the tweeny year olds.

[tourboi]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:53am

No need to be an ageist.

Many of my friends of various generations have seen, loved, and been completely enthralled by JACKSON.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:56am

I think the show is more about a set of ideas than trying to get us to empathize with anyone within it. Jackson was an endlessly flawed person and to attempt to make him or his actions sympathetic would have been a huge mistake. I think the show has more to do with Theatre of the Absurd and some Post-Modern concepts than it does Rock Opera.

As for the score, "Populism, Yeah, Yeah" and "I'm Not That Guy" run through my head often.

Though I can completely understand why this show would be unappealing to some. It's loud, unapologetic, and ugly (not the physical production, but it's the only word that seem appropriate). For me it's really smart musical theatre in the same league as Assassins.

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 1:58am

That is great for them. I will only hope I am in the minority then and that a larger audience of this show will open the eyes of many people. just don't see how it is going to translate in a bigger space.
Updated On: 6/28/10 at 01:58 AM

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:04am

just curious, those of you that keep mentioning the songs "Populism" and "I'm not that Guy", how many times have you seen JACKSON?

[JP2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:07am

Once, last week.
Updated On: 6/28/10 at 02:07 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:09am

"I loved this show and it also educated me on the some of the aspects of this presidents' life. I love a show that both educates and entertains."

Don't buy it all as fact- a lot of it isn't, or just based on truth. Jackson wasn't even born in Tennessee (the Waxhaw settlement was basically on the border between the Carolinas), and Lyncoya died before Jackson reached the White House (to name a few of the liberties taken).

"Populism however, is not a novel concept except to the tweeny year olds."

Considering that Jackson and the idea of populism forever changed American politics, I would beg to differ- and an idea that most teenaged audience members will not be grasping. The musical also manages to bring up the cost of making America what it was today, and if direct democracy is even possible or efficient.

Hopefully, the show will inspire audience members to look deeper into our nation's history, particularly the early half of the 19th century. It's what shaped America.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:10am

My kids saw it this week and really liked it. My daughter said the cast was so nice at the stage door. They were very talkative to her and wanted to know where she was from. She thought that was very cool!

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:18am

couldn't agree more Kad. I'm totally on your side. The History of Jackson is skewed at best. Books and Biographies often contradict one another. Do you really think most people will truly go back and find a further interest in the History of America from this show alone? I don't. It's a cheap form of a pseudo college credit and semi-interesting entertainment.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:34am

You actually aren't on my side- I love the show. Adore it. Saw it 7 times during its run. Think it's the best new musical I have seen in years.

I believe it makes a very important, but distant and unrelatable, part of American history viable to audiences, while still offering commentary on America today. And while it doesn't present a wholly historically accurate or factual account of Jackson's life and exploits, it stays true to the themes Jackson was so much about. The show never actually goes against, thematically, any history. The bit about Black Hawk is questionable, but certainly not out of line with the treatment of the Indians or how agreements were reached with them.

[PReeves2]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 2:56am

Rad, once again I agree with you...yet I still don't know why it is a piece of theater. no wonder there isn't an intermission...would have had no reason to come back after Act 1. I wasn't connected to any of the characters and couldn't relate to them. It's as if I could have put in a DVD at home or DVR'd an episode on The History Channel. You seem to be in agreement, amongst others, to be playing into the Populist point of this show after seeing it 7 times. Once again, it's popular to be cool for the moment in time.




Updated On: 6/28/10 at 02:56 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 3:20am

I can't tell you the title of any songs but many run through my head -- I don't save programs and the cd has not yet been released for sale.

I am certainly NOT a "tweeney" (try doubling that) and I LOVED it. Saw it twice. I only know one person that walked away with simnply a "meh" feeling. I thought it was the best musical of the season. Will I see it if it makes the jump to B'way? You bet. Do I think it will be successful on B'way? Sadly, no. But I'd love for it to get a more permanent off B'way run (like at New World Stages).

I am NOT a history buff. One of my least favorite subjects of all time. This show DID spurn me to learn more about Mr. Jackson and have already ready done reading and resesarch. I love the retrospective thought on his "accomplishments" to be intriguing.

Not 100 per cent true? It's art, it doesn't have to be. They aren't proclaiming it to be the definitive source of his life.

Loved it. Am terribly disappointed that the cd isn't yet available.

Updated On: 6/28/10 at 03:20 AM

[Scottsacto]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 3:49am

To answer your earlier question--I saw it Once. I do not believe that it is the true telling of this President's story. But hopefully it will make people think and perhaps pursue additional information on this man.

And I am Not a Tweeny--rather a rapidly aging man in my 50's.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 8:33am

And really, PReeves -- because someone likes something you didn't, THAT's a character flaw? No one is commenting on your persoanlly because you didn't like it.

And really, why the viotrol towards this? If you didn't like it (which is FINE) why do you want to talk about it so much?? It didn't work for you and that's ok. There are lots of shows I didn't like that other did. Aside from voicing my opinion on them, I don't enjoy debating their merits -- different strokes.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 10:37am

I AM a history nerd, 20-something, female and I loved the show. Easily the best thing I've seen in a very long time. Was it completely historically accurate? No. But What I loved about the historical aspect of it was it portrayed the Jackson area Presidency for what it really was....controversial. Jackson is one of the more interesting Presidents because no one can agree on his Presidency. He wasn't a uniformally "good" or "bad" President. I thought the show did a great job of portraying that.

And for what its worth, my father--age 57, who tags along to a few shows every year to please me--who very rarely likes anything he's seen (he thought Hair was meh, hated Ave Q, hated August Osage County, 39 Steps etc) absolutely LOVED BBAJ. He told me that he was hoping it transferred so he got to see it again. We saw it about a month ago and he still talks about it. My father is a huge political/history buff and thought the show was the smartest thing he's ever seen with me.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 10:46am

Not a tweeny. Loved it.

And the score has a few weak moments, but some of it is quite good - and yes, hummable. Saw it once and have been singing "I'm Not That Guy: since.

I hope the transfer happens.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 11:03am

"Rad, once again I agree with you...yet I still don't know why it is a piece of theater. no wonder there isn't an intermission...would have had no reason to come back after Act 1. I wasn't connected to any of the characters and couldn't relate to them. It's as if I could have put in a DVD at home or DVR'd an episode on The History Channel. You seem to be in agreement, amongst others, to be playing into the Populist point of this show after seeing it 7 times. Once again, it's popular to be cool for the moment in time."

I would argue that empathy for the characters is beside the point- they're not there for you to connect to. The show doesn't set out to show the wildly complicated man that Jackson was in realistic, empathetic terms. It's really a series of sketches, even a parody of historical pageants (the first few scenes are or documentaries. I don't see why you keep putting such emphasis on this as a fault of the show.

I'm not a fan of the show because it's cool to be- I genuinely love this show. People actually DO love it out of their own free will.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/28/10 at 11:35am

I have never been a fan of any show to 'be cool'. To whom???