Bklyn Review- 10/4!!

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 8:09pm

First, let me say that I am NOT a shill, or anything among that sort. Anyway, I feel that Bklyn is a good piece of musical theater, not amazing, but good. I feel people are just beginning to post negative reviews due to the whole "shill" situation, which is not a big deal, but anyway. I feel if the show was not as hyped as it is, like Wicked, than more people would enjoy it. The cast is extremely talented, as is the music. I would have to say that Paradice(Ramona Keller) is the srongest character, as well as my favorite; however, Eden, Kevin, Cleveant, and Karen all gave exceptional performances. I disagree with the comments about costumes and sets. Sure, the set is "Rent-like", but in a different sense. In addition, I foudn the costumes very creative and enjoyable. The whole reason why the dress is made of plastic bags is due to the fact that they are living on the street. The plot could be stronger, but it's a cute little fairy tale. I would reccomend this show for people who DO NOT constantly start arguments with "shills." It was an enjoyable show, and good enough to make top 5 or 10.

[cvapb]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 8:11pm

Thanks for the review! I've been debating on if I should get tickets for November or not! This helps :)

[juice23]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 10:11pm

woot i got my tickets for Nov 14th....ROw C orch left of center!

[cvapb]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 10:43pm

Im goin Nov 26 :)

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 10:49pm

Thanks for great review!
And cvapb, i'll see you there, becuase i'm going Nov. 26 too! (for my second time! i'm also going october 7th)

[cvapb]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 10:56pm

oh awesome!! where are you sitting??

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 10:59pm

I'll be in row G, center orch!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:17pm

"I feel people are just beginning to post negative reviews due to the whole "shill" situation..."

Not neccessarily.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:18pm

"I feel people are just beginning to post negative reviews due to the whole "shill" situation..."

I think so too

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:18pm

Well, I couldn't disagree more. I found BROOKLYN to be a poisonous piece of sanctimonious self-righteous garbage, proof that the Republicans don't have a monopoly on crap. The story is paper thin, and all the fancy staging and inventive costuming in the world cannot disguise the absolute hokiness of this inane parade of garbage. Only the actress who plays Paradice emerges unscathed, as she is the only person given anything like interesting material to perform. Her opening song is fast and inventive, unlike the appalling saccharine trash that poor Eden Espinoza is stuck with, a bunch of songs that Celine Dion would reject as being just too sugary.

Brooklyn herself comes off as such a total saint, such a vision of purity and honesty that I started to wonder whether the play was going to end with her crucifixion. When she tells Paradice to read her Bible my jaw fell into my lap, easily the lowest point in the show filled to overflowing with preaching claptrap.

Crap. Sheer unadulterated crap, with a couple of pretty good songs that are well performed by one cast member who manages to rise above the appallingly banal lyrics. The cast keeps chanting, "Once upon a time," when they might more accurately chant "Ten cliches per song."

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:20pm

Well, I couldn't disagree with you more, Roscoe

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:37pm

Sorry Bklyn Fans, I mostly agree with Roscoe's review. I saw this a few days ago and thought the set and costumes were ugly (sometimes very creative, but ugly). The songs were mediocre, adult contemporary, Rent-wannabe, forgettable and annoying, and the vocal gymnastics were straight out of Star Search. As noted, the story was thin and ridiculous. Come on - since when would two singers be competing at Madison Square Garden for $$ and a recording contract? I didn't buy into this show for a second.

However, I thought the performers were very talented, and I look forward to seeing them in other projects.

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:46pm

Roscoe-
I agree. The singers are talented, this show needs to be done as a concert not a show. The story is a mess.
Who would compete in Madison Square Garden in Hefty bags.
Come on kiddies. Wake up and smell the gladiolas. OOPS, WRONG SHOW.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/5/04 at 11:46pm

These negative reviews are from people's personal accounts of seeing the show. The "shill" situation might turn people away from the show, but one's opinion of it cannot be formed unless they see the show themself.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 12:16am

Exactly.

[businesssuit]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 12:27am

Never apologize about posting your enthusiasm about a show! It's the singular most healthy thing a person can do on this site, or any other. Isn't a rave is more enjoyable to read than a rant? For my money, yes. That's not to say there's no room for debate, if the argument is thoughtful and charitable. There's nothing healthy about a negative post, especially one that poses as a "critical" one, especially when it's not well-written, as many are. It's hard work to be critical. Easy work to be cruel. Malicious posts on the theatre website forums help no one; not the potential buyers of tickets, certainly not the people on the creative end of things who may be reading them (and many of us do check in.) After all, there's no professional context for a real "review" on this forum, or any other; as well it should be. One of things I love and support about website forums such as at BBW is how they afford regular theatre-lovers the opportunity to express their immediate joy (or disappointment) after seeing a show--particulary young people who are learning to express themselves. So post away and NEVER apologize if you simply must shout about a show you love.(And if you absolutely hate it and have nothing nice to say about it, do what I do: smile, nod, run for the nearest dry martini bar and keep it to yourself.)

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 8:32am

I have to agree with some of the comments... Brooklyn has to be the worst show I have ever seen. And I have seen A LOT of shows (including Tonight's The Night in London which I thought could never be beaten).

The book is terrible, the characters are completely 'flat' with the expectation of Paradice who is the only real 'character' (with funny moments and attitude) in the show. Brooklyn got on my nerves after the secong song with her 'let's all be good' attitude. I don't want to rant and give away too many details but I was appalled by the quality of the show.

Shame for the performers as there are some good voices amongst them ... I kept telling my American friends that I had yet to see a very bad show on Broadway (compared to a lot of bad experiences I had in London) And along came Brooklyn!!!

BTW, businesssuit, if a show sucks I will certainly air my opinion on it and not just 'smile, nod , run for the nearest dry martini bar and keep it to myself.' Why should I? You're encouraging people to post their positive reviews but don't want to hear about negative ones? That's just beyond me and there is no logic to that.

QM

Updated On: 10/6/04 at 08:32 AM

[joeyjoe]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 8:56am

but if one is allowed to rave about a show one loves, to the point that some posters here do, then the same opportunity should be allowed to those who need to rant about a show, to the same extreme...

personally, i would prefer more sedate positive reviews and more constructive negative ones... but again, if one can be fanatical about their raving, they should be accepting of the same extreme ranting...

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 9:13am

Corine - Who would compete in Madison Square Garden in Hefty bags? Come on kiddies.

The answer to that is NO ONE - in REAL LIFE - but you seem to forget that these are street performers, homeless people who are telling and acting out a "fairy tale".... so Paradice put on that dress of garbage bags because that's all she could find but to us its supposed to be a fancy expensive dress...