Bombay Dreams in SEATTLE, WA. Last Chance to See the Show.- Page 4

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 5:41pm

This is Talking Broadway's review of the show:

If you're suffering from a ravenous hunger for rich, intelligent musical theatre, you're unlikely to be satiated by Bombay Dreams. But while this Technicolor patchwork quilt of a musical at the Broadway Theatre is hardly an example of masterful craftsmanship, it's still the most satisfying new musical of the Broadway season.

In most other years, it would be little more than a curiosity trampled on by bigger, more forbidding shows. With its main competition this season being lackluster star vehicles, over-inflated puppet shows, and bewildering, bothering, but not bewitching exercises in revisionist literary history, Bombay Dreams takes the lead simply by being more than the sum of its parts.

Not that its attempts ever seem effortless. Everyone strains to hold the whole thing together, and they don't always succeed, particularly in the relatively thin second act. But it's difficult not to smile, laugh, and ultimately be entertained by this mildly spicy tribute to the Indian movie musical; whatever your level of familiarity with Bollywood films, Bombay Dreams still works, even if primarily on the most basic of levels.

For that success, and for the show's solidly "Broadway" feel, some credit must be given to Thomas Meehan. The Tony-winning librettist behind Annie, The Producers, and Hairspray was brought in to help Meera Syal whip her book for the show (which originally opened in London in 2002) into shape for the Broadway run, and he's done a decent job. The final version lacks almost all fat, but is also fairly short on meat.

That doesn't stop it from successfully telling its lightweight story about Bombay tour guide Akaash (Manu Narayan), who rises from the depths of the Paradise slum to become a Bollywood superstar. He gets there with the help of Priya (Anisha Nagarajan), an aspiring independent filmmaker planning a movie about her fiancé, Vikram (Deep Katdare), a lawyer who represents Bombay's underprivileged. Priya helps Akaash get his start by hijacking the entertainment at the Miss India Pageant, where he meets the glamorous film actress Rani (Ayesha Dharker), who insists he co-star in her next film.

Akaash rockets to fame, but turns his back on his grandmother Shanti (Madhur Jaffrey), his friends in Paradise, and his promise to make enough money to buy the slum to prevent it from being bulldozed. He soon must decide whether money, fame, and Rani are more attractive to him than his family, friends, and budding relationship with Priya.

Contrived? Sure. That's part of the point: Syal and Meehan have adopted many typical Bollywood plots and conventions for their story, both paying homage to them and tweaking their inclusion. Using the plot contrivances for humor in this way helps anchor the show, and the characters' occasional comments on the plot twists' resemblances to Bollywood films are all cleverly integrated. As the story begins to resemble the one Priya devises for her film (also called Bombay Dreams), whether you're watching the story unfolding live - or the film version made of it - is left ambiguous. That's as complex as Bombay Dreams gets.

The production, however, is beautifully realized, with Steven Pimlott's energetic direction bringing all the elements nicely together. Hugh Vanstone's lights are well done, but are overshadowed by Mark Thompson's lavish (and numerous) sets and costumes. They render, in vibrantly colorful theatrical terms, the Bollywood-style atmosphere the story requires; Thompson's designs for the film-within-the-play musical numbers are especially successful in the way they embrace almost-tacky glitz and glamour.

Those musical numbers could hardly be more authentic: A R Rahman, an esteemed composer of Indian film music (including the Oscar-nominated Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India), has provided the show's music. And if a few songs are familiar from his film compositions, musical director James Abbott and orchestrator Paul Bogaev do some superb work helping Rahman fit them seamlessly into the show. Don Black provided the lyrics; they're serviceable, but not particularly distinguished. The Rahman/Black score includes a couple of attractive plot songs, like "Love's Never Easy" and "Hero," but one power ballad ("How Many Stars?") sounds like something Bombay Dreams producer Andrew Lloyd Webber might have appropriated for one of his own shows.

The large group numbers, which employ some two dozen performers, are nothing short of spectacular. In the "Salaa'm Bombay" opener, the extravagant "Lovely, Lovely Ladies" and "Bhangra" for the Miss India Pageant, and the full-out Bollywood showstoppers "Shakalaka Baby" and "Chaiyya Chaiyya," Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan provide the season's most invigorating choreography.

The tireless souls dancing it are the most compelling performers in Bombay Dreams. Narayan can easily keep up with them, and sings well, but is a somewhat by-the-numbers actor. Nagarajan is much the same, an appealing and talented performer without the charisma necessary to sparkle in her role. Dharker does slightly better, with several juicier opportunities, and Katdare and Jaffrey have a number of nice acting moments. Sriram Ganesan turns in the show's most engaging performance as Sweetie, a eunuch harboring an eternal torch for Akaash. He possesses the stage presence most of the others lack, a terrific voice, and expert comic timing.

While Bombay Dreams would benefit from a few more exciting performances like Ganesan's, the other performances are all acceptable. But as they - and the material - aren't much more, that might mean you come out of Bombay Dreams with little more than an appreciation of Bollywood films you didn't have earlier, and even the best of this show is somewhat evanescent. Regardless, Bombay Dreams provides two and a half hours of entertaining diversion in a spring musical theatre climate needing exactly that.

[GClef2]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 6:08pm

It is a very enjoyable show. The sets and Costuming were intricate and beautiful. The acting and singing was superb---but the dancing! WOW! Perfectly choreographed. I completely agree with this Review-totally accurate.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 5:53am

just posted the clip of the opening night

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 12:20am

it's funny that a lot of people trash this show and have never seen it.

[theatrespaz]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 12:30am

The tour officially starts in Costa Mesa, but the reason Tucson has only two performances is because that is where the show is teching for the entire week which is a first for Tucson Also the fountain scene will be included and the cast is still being finalized and it is Equity.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 12:32am

tnks so much for the info!!! i am so excited!!!...finally i don't get hate comments...lol
i hope some of you guys give this show a chance.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 1:46am

any other info you have...please let me know theatrespaz

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 2:55pm

I may very well be going, I'm waiting to line something up! Wooo Hoooo!!

[hellskitchenguy]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 3:28pm

Has the tour been cast yet?

[theatrespaz]

Posted: 12/20/05 at 10:11pm

As I stated above, the touring cast is still being finalized and contracts signed, therefore no names are allowed to be given out. The tour should have a cast list set early, very early next year. Although the creatives have been announced.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 9:27am

theatrepaz...u rock! tnks for the info again.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/21/05 at 6:08pm

Some released info:
The recent Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit Bombay Dreams features music by A.R. Rahman, lyrics by Don Black, and a book by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan and is based on the idea by Shekhar Kapur. This dazzling musical had its world premiere at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre on June 19, 2002, and shortly after, found a home on Broadway, where TUTS was one of the production investors before its closing this past January.

Set amid India’s bustling film industry, also known as Bollywood, this triumphant new stage musical tells the story of a handsome young man, who dreams of finding stardom and romance in a rich and exotic land. Along with its lush score, Broadway audiences were dazzled by Bombay Dreams’ opulent “India silk” costuming and its exuberant and pulsating choreography.

“With America’s love for such recent Bollywood-style films as Monsoon Wedding and Bride and Prejudice, this first National Tour of Bombay Dreams is truly timely,” said Young. “The tour routing dictated that this show fall into our 2005-2006 season, and we couldn’t ask for a more spectacular production to offer our audience.”

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 4:44am

Does anyone know where "Bombay Dreams" made it's pre-Broadway run???

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 3:59pm

Bombay Dreams will take off on an international tour in a production directed by A Chorus Line's Baayork Lee.
The upcoming tour is a co-production with members of the Independent Presenters Network will kick off Feb. 21, 2006, in Costa Mesa, CA. Casting and additional venues will be announced shortly. Partners, to date, include Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Fox Associates in St. Louis, Ruth Eckherd Hall in Clearwater, California Music Theatre in Sacramento, Theater Under The Stars in Houston, Dallas Summer Musicals, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, North Carolina Center for the Performing Arts in Charlotte, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and The Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Canada.

Updated On: 12/23/05 at 03:59 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/23/05 at 11:48pm

If they add a Ft.Laudardale run then I think I rather do Ft.
Yay, for Baayork Lee, she is the original Connie in A Chorus Line, she also was one of the original princesses of Siam in the original Broadway run of The King and I. I read her direction for the King and I tour was very much flawed though. I thought the Bombay Dreams tour would have the same creative team as the Broadway run.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 2:12pm

the show is good.


Updated On: 1/17/06 at 02:12 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 2:44pm

bitch...you haven't seen the show...so shut up!!! LOL
we both love "Woman in White" and "Piazza" and we usually agree on the shows we love...we even liked some of the same flops...i was expecting to hate "Chita" and "Fiddler" like you did...but i actually enjoyed them.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/24/05 at 3:33pm

muscle, you're a great friend!



Updated On: 1/18/06 at 03:33 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 5:10am

you haven't seen it.

Updated On: 3/4/06 at 05:10 AM

[DAME]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 9:06am

I saw the first 50 minutes and had enough. To me this show was trash. It is also ( from what I have read) a third tier tour. Iam not saying don't see it. But please don't pay full price. I paid $100.00 on broadway and was livid.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 12/26/05 at 12:33pm

I saw BD on Broadway in September 2004, and I enjoyed it, though I could see why it didn't last long. I think it was just too "foreign" for the out-of-towners who came to see the show. On the other hand, it seemed to lack the over-the-top Bollywood song/dance numbers that make Indian films so "special" (in both an enjoyable and a camp way). If you've seen the American film The Guru, you know what kind of number I'm talking about. I don't recall anything like that in Bombay Dreams, and I missed it. It's also a shame that the OLC recording is significantly different from the Broadway production.

As for the tour, I was just in Costa Mesa yesterday for The Boyfriend and noticed that it was coming there soon. I do think that once was enough for me, especially as February/March promise to be huge months for theater in the L.A./O.C. area. But you're right, muscle, that people shouldn't offer opinions without having seen the show.

[musical baby]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 3:58am

I am so excited for this show. I was in NYC with my mom and we had a free evening to chose another show and we picked Bombay Dreams. I enjoyed it so much! Sure it's not the best, but I love the dancing and the music. I wish they made a US Cast CD cause the music is much better in the US version.

Dang, when is that cast list coming out? I have been waiting for any kind of news for months.

I hope to see it more than once. Yay for LA (Costa Mesa)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/28/05 at 11:13am

i agree...i wish that had recorded a CD with Tamyra Gray, she was phenomenal, and yes...i agree that the music on the Broadway production was better than the London version. There is still no info about the cast, so far the only announcement is that Baayork Lee will direct and it is an equity production and it seems there will be a fountain and everything.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 11:50am

anyone else going?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/29/05 at 12:23pm

so, is this going to be the same as the Broadway version - Its getting a new director for the tour, so does that mean some things are going to change or what?