Oh. no, no, no. That was not good.
Honestly, as much as I listened to that original London cast recording years ago, Aspects was probably never a good show. But that music! but those lyrics....
I could complain about the physical production, the lack of direction (Jonathan Kent--what happened??). All, not good. Save for Laura Pitt-Pulford the cast is so weak. How does Jamie Bogyo (Alex) keep getting cast? No charisma, no real acting chops, a tenor that is serviceable at best. But he's had the lead ingenue male role in two big shows He must audition very well. I thought Danielle de Niese's Guilietta had potential but both her act two numbers fell flat. Michael Ball was enjoyable, I guess, but he's trotted out to sing "Love Changes Everything" (originally Alex's opening number) with his traditional ending big note that should be thrilling but comes across as corny (but really shows how weak Bogyo's high notes are in comparison when he sings the same song's big note at the end of the Act). George should be played as a continental lothario, but Ball's is merely a campy esthete. And, um...plot-wise, an older man creeping on a teenage girl whom he watched grow up has not aged well.
Without Alex and Rose and George and Rose having chemistry, the show falls flatter than it otherwise would, and as hard as Pitt-Pulford tries, she can't ignite anything with her leading men.
But, like Bad Cinderella, Lloyd-Webber's work does shine alone. Gorgeous, gorgeous songs. And they'd better be because they come back A LOT! There are no new songs, but a bunch of new lyrics such as Rose and the housekeeper joining in on "Much Better Off With You" (maybe to show that Rose has some agency of her own instead of being a "prize" between her old man lover and the boy who just shot her).
Updated On: 5/19/23 at 07:12 PM
