Bee and Brooklyn - at last I see them!

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:07pm

And it took me long enought to drag my broke bum over to the Plymouth to witness Brooklyn. But with two weeks left, I had to see what all the fuss was about. But I will write about Bee first.

I'm not going to do a full review, just things I enjoyed, didn't enjoy, etc.

****************************

SPELLING BEE

For such a creative concept, talented cast, and hilarious book, someone should have clued Willian Finn in on the fact that the music is boring, bland, and stops the show. There were some average, but enjoyable, songs like "Magic Foot," "My Unfortunate Erection," and Celia Keenan-Bolger's beautifully delivered, "I Love You." But on a whole, the score was not anything special, and in a musical, that turns out to be a bad thing.

Every cast member did a great job. Special mention to Celia and Jesse.

TONY THOUGHTS
Having now seen all four nominated shows for Best Musical in the following order: DRS, Spamalot, Piazza, Bee - I can say Piazza deserved the tony for Musical, with DRS close behind.

Dan Folger, while very good, I don't think deserved the Tony. He has been with the show from the beginning and his character is one that is forced to run around the stage. He is very good, but Matt Morrison deserved that Tony.

OVERALL

Bee is a fun show I would recommend to all, but would not hurry back to see. I give it 6/10 Stars - while the idea is clever, the score is just too bland.

(NOTE: After listening to the CD more and more, I am beginning to like the music. Sounds much better on CD.)

****************

BROOKLYN

The name alone carries a sort of undistinguished, death of the theatre air with it.

I went in to Brooklyn expecting the worst, beyond the worst. I think this tainted my enjoyment of the show - because I enjoyed it more than expected. Nevertheless, it is still a bundle of crap wrapped in a plastic bag, neatly fitted to the actresses.

The show's biggest problem lies in the fact that the book is a whirlwind adventure leaving you destroyed, heart-broken and kicking yourself as you wonder, "WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST WITNESS?" It's like a train wreck and no one was saved.

The music wasn't as bad as I had expected, with a very enjoyable tunes. At least, whatever sounds were blaring at me, giving me the migraine of the century, was more entertaining then the book - which was a compilation of nonsensical rubbish.

The idea was good: A group of city weeds, as they are so-called, put on a show, describing a fairy tale. As they do this, passer-bys give them some money. It's sort of what we see on every corenr of Times Square - people performing.

There was some clever staging, such as the Eiffel Tower. But in context of the story, everything was just plain ridiculous.

The story goes back and forth between the story of Brooklyn (Eden Espinosa) and Paradice (Ramona Keller). They are competing, winner takes all - fame, glory, money, most outlandish costume. Thankfully, the true talent of the show wins.

The other story is Brooklyn trying to find her father, played by Lee Morgan (UNDERSTUDY). He was very good - in fact he was great. But his role was just too pathetic. Karen Olivio, as Faith, Brooklyn's dead mother, was also a stand out. Finally, Horace V. Rogers (UNDERSTUDY) as the streetsinger was also great - or as good as one could be in such a drab part.

As the plot thickens with stupidity and the songs blare louder and louder....nothing really happens. A huge problem with the show is that it is anticlimatic. Nothing leads up to anything. Nothing, from the beginning makes you care about the characters.

The costumes went to the extreme and worked well in the "fairy tale world." Things look bad when you think the costumes are more intriguing and interesting (not necessarily in a good way) than the story itself.

So Brooklyn turns out to be Rent, without substance. The show makes a fool of itself as it tries to change the world of drugs, AIDS, and sex in a haphazard, meaningless way.

Fear not, if in the next two weeks you can't obtain tickets to Rent, see Brooklyn. You will still have a pickle drum bucket and a character with the initials TC (Tom Collins (Rent)/Taylor Collins (BKLYN).

Final note, Ramona Keller steals the show from Eden's ear-piercing singing. Ramona is worth the price of admission (Student Rush, that is) alone.

Overall, 2/10 Stars.


[In blog]

Updated On: 7/14/05 at 04:07 PM

[442namffug]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:10pm

I have to thoroughly disagree with you about Bee's score. I recently received the Cast Recording and I love it. Sometimes repetative lyrically? Yes. Musically bland or repetative? NO!! I haven't even seen the show but I think the music is so refreshing and very catchy. Finn's ability to capture the "childish" nature of each song is great, but there are so many songs that extend beyond that. I think the music is great. To each his own

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:30pm

I agree with 442 but great reviews nonetheless!

[The8re phan]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:43pm

Your Brooklyn review was spot on......snaps & cookies to you, dear!!!

Well, I too enjoyed the music from Spelling Bee, and found it to be very fitting for the show. But at least you can take comfort in the fact that Piazza did win best score.

Updated On: 6/12/05 at 04:43 PM

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 4:46pm

I think the music was alright - but compared to the book and whatnot, it really is the worst part of the show. I still found it bland, with a few exceptions.

Maybe if I get the CD and listen to it enought, it'll grow on me....

[UptownGirl]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 5:34pm

Nice review! I totally agree with you on Brooklyn... I felt like I was waiting for something to happen and when nothing did, I was thoroughly disappointed.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 7:09pm

Yeah...also, it was too loud at the beginning...well, throughout.

But yeah, I never knew why I was watching it.

[alphieboy]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 7:19pm

Well said and written, if I may add.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 7:19pm

I loved every secound of Brooklyn. I didn'tget a headache from it. Actually when my grandma died I would listen to Brooklyn and feel better.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 7:33pm

I;m still a bit hungover from it.

Though I will admit, I may buy the Recording, if I can find it cheap. Some songs were worth it = for the music.

The lyrics are just dreadful.

[AlienOnBroadway]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 8:25pm

I appreciate your thoughts on these shows. I can't agree or disagree as I have not seen either show, however, I enjoyed reading your reviews.

Also, I just wanted to give you applause for not referring to yourself in third person in your subject line.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:01pm

Thanks.

You should definitely go see Bee - it's been sold out. We did the standing room - 25 bux, Pretty good spots.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 10:24pm

Updated On: 5/9/06 at 10:24 PM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/12/05 at 11:43pm

well i strongly disagree on bee's score. but to each his own. i do agree that piazza was the best musical and that matt deserved that award over dan. also kelli deserved it over sara.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:30am

yes, but I can't really say Piazza as screwed, except for Best Musical.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:35am

"And it took me long enought to drag my broke bum over to the Plymouth to witness Brooklyn"

You had to drag two broke bums over to the Plymouth...well, it was the only non-jukebox musical I had not seen currently playing but still...

I will say the student seats were excellent, we got them within an hour before the show and they were row H right on the aisle, among the best student rush seats I have ever gotten. Anywayz, the show...oy! I agree with Thenadier that it wasn't as bad as we were expecting but...yeah. I really wasn't enjoying most of the first half of the show. I tried following the plot but..I was just confused, almost wanted to laugh at it. I do actually like some of the music. I was excited to see Once Upon A Time live, I have the song but I ended up being disappointed. I don't know whether everyone was playing too loud or it was just ridiculously amplified but it was soooo loud...the orchestra played soo loud, the drum beats made my stomach jump, making Eden really hafta sing loud, which made the whole volume thing worse, and yeah, definitely had a headache by the end of that show.I really loved the song, and I just didn't at alll see the need for the playing and singing and everything to be so loud. Oh well.

By the end, I enjoyed it a tad more. Either my ears adjusted to the volume or they played a little lower, because hte music didn't seem quite so loud after awhile. Eventually I just completely stopped following the plot, and just viewed each scene as separate and unconnected, also making it more enjoyable.

I can't say anything bad about the performances. Eden is good, it's just a shame she has to sing so loud to play over that loud orchestra. Gotta admit she was a tad annoying as little Brooklyn though.

i gotta say without a doubt the best thing about that show was Ramona Keller. She sang great, she acted great, just...I was loving her scenes. I also agree that Ramona's performance I guess along witht eh good performances of the rest made it worth seeing for the great cheap tickets.

The story I think has potential it just...doesn't pan out at all. But I give much credit to the performers, particularly Ramona, doing the best they can with the material.

Ooh, there was a standing ovation at the end. Thenadier stood up(for Ramona he claimed). I didn't. I was mad that there was a standing ovation to be honest...I mean it really is a coupel of people stand up and then people behind them stand to see, etc. that's where the big standing ovations come from but still...eh.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 12:38am

heh, well I ended up standing for Karen...which was OK.

I couldn't see cause that monster was in front of us...oy....

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:10am

Hahaha. And you expected me, who's a foot shorter than you to switch seats. Honestly, I probably would have been pissed if I got stuck behind you during a show. I'd need to get a kiddie cushion to see over you. Actually...at DRS my mom(who's 4'7") used one...she said it was the best she ever saw at a show.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 1:13am

I never asked to switch seats...I was pointing to the vacant ones to say let's move later on (which didn't work).

BUT...I slouch anyway...