Bonnie & Clyde -- 1st Preview Today- Page 12

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 1:27pm

Yeah, I don't hold Wildhorn responsible for some awkward lyrics. Nor do I hold him responsible for direction. A lot of the negative comments seem to indicate Wildhorn has some sort of superpower with total creative control, which the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde completely disproved. His process reminds me a lot of Galt McDermott. He's a man with a lot of material and a lot of ideas, but he needs objectivity, editing and guidance. Wildhorn and Gregory Boyd were really focused on more innovative productions (Jekyll & Hyde and Svengali both originally focused on utilizing more innovative technology in design while Civil War was an excercise in a new spin on style), but Wildhhorn's material works best when he simply focuses on the subject and the story. Jekyll & Hyde was their best collaboration because it was so sharply focused in its first two productions.

I do think that the orchestrations for Bonnie and Clyde are going to open up Wildhorn for more objective opinions on his compositions. In this show, at least.

[dented146]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 8:26pm

When Bonnie and Clyde was first reviewed in San Diego the critics jumped all over the musical. " It didn't say anything new about the characters", It didn't get the histiory correct, It glorified killers etc. They acted like this was supposed to be a documentary and explore the meaning of the great depression.

Charles McNulty of the LA Times complimented the cast and even had somrthing nice to say about a couple of songs but said it had no artistic vision and nothing new to say about the characters. It's like they had a certain quota of words to dish out. I am sure none of them felt this musical had any future even though most of the people leaving The La Jolla Playhouse enjoyed the musical. Wildhorn certainly deserved to be frustrated with the reviews. Ironically, this was a musical which was put together very quickly compared to most.

I would not be surprised if the critics, sensitive to their perceived bias, find somrthing honest and reasonable to say about this production.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 9:31pm

I still think it was better when they rushed it. At this point they've had far too much time to second guess a lot of great material from La Jolla and replace it with dialogue and songs that just aren't as good as the ones they cut. The most noticeable loss in my mind is the fluidity that the original production had. The book and songs have been so tampered that the show has lost a little of its through line narrative and now goes off on little needless tangents.

The NY critics and audiences aren't going to know that the show they're seeing is missing some really good stuff. People do seem to be enjoying it, but they're also complaining about certain scenes and songs that were not an issue in the original libretto. And just about everyone is talking about how they went in with low expectations. No doubt the critics will also make similar comments. The reviews here seem promising, but the reviews from the critics will almost certainly be mixed. Whether or not they will be mixed to negative or mixed to positive is up to the creative team at this point.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 10:31pm

For what it was worth, I enjoyed it. It gave two up-and-coming stars nice, juicy roles to sink their teeth into. The music was lovely, even though the lyrics were a little pedestrian.

I think Laura Osnes may be in contention for the Tony (which, last I heard, was in Jan Maxwell's bag). Laura deserves more leading roles like this...what a voice!

[sorano916]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 10:40pm

I see Melissa getting a nomination before Laura. What does the potential featured actress nomination pool look like?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 10:42pm

I totally forgot about Melissa! She was fantastic, especially in "You're Goin' Back To Jail" and "You Love Who You Love"...

[philly03]

Posted: 11/14/11 at 11:06pm

Ironically enough, the creators joke (but it probably is true).. this musical was "written" on Skype. Frank was in Tampa/around the world, Ivan is based in California I believe, Jeff Calhoun in New York and Don Black in London.

I think the only sloppy part of the book is that the Ted romance is touched on, given a song but nothing really happens with it which to my knowledge was a big part of the La Jolla production. It doesn't help that Louis Hobson is horribly boring and uninteresting in the show.

I can't see Melissa not getting nominated. She does a whole tour of emotions through out the show and has a glorious voice.

I'm also wondering how the critics will respond to this one.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 12:49pm

Saw last Saturday night's performance and wasn't too happy with it. There are some very nice songs along the way, although a certain sameness came into it by Act 2. However, the guy playing the preacher just wasn't any good and his numbers just didn't make the cut. IMO, Jeremy Jordan has a nice voice, is not hard on the eyes and makes a good stab at it. What he lacks, IMO, is the gravitas that Clyde should convey -- he's just too young and not very convincing as a tough criminal. Osnes (spelling?) was better. And Act 2 DRAGGED -- on and on and on, with similar-sounding songs abounding. I had the feeling that the audience was with it during the first act, but enthusiasm seemed to wane as the night dragged on. Applause at the curtain was polite but certainly not overwhelming. Because I like some of the individual songs, I'll get the recording, assuming there is one.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 5:34pm

Ed, Jordan is 26, so he's the right age.

A lot of people forget that the Barrow Gang were very young, though they've often been portrayed by older actors in films and such. For instance, in the film Beatty (Clyde) was 30, Dunaway (Bonnie) was 26, Pollard ("C.W.") was 28, Hackman (Buck)was 37, and Parsons (Blanche) was pushing 40.

In reality, Bonnie had just turned 19 and Clyde was 2 months shy of his 21st birthday when they met; at their deaths, they were 23 and 25, respectively. Buck was 30 during his 4-month spree with B&C, and Blanche was all of 22 -- far from the middle-aged couple portrayed in the film. As for C.W. Moss, he's a composite of D.W. Jones, who was just 16 when he joined his idol Clyde and 17 when he left of his own accord, and Henry Methvin (also 22).

Updated On: 11/15/11 at 05:34 PM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 11/15/11 at 8:37pm

Well I have not liked many Wildhorne shows in the past but this one is a winner. In Music, Lyrics, Book, Theme, Direction, Peformance, Concept, Style and Period.

Perfect. Nah but a fascinating night in the theatre.

I predict good reviews that will surprise the "Cassandras" on here. Frank Wildhorn will finally go home a happy man with the upcoming reviews. He will not have to apologize for this one.
He may just finally get some kudos.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:05am

This show really needs a FOCUS. It could be bearable...if it had major edits. Instead, it's scattered. I liked the show when Bonnie and/or Clyde were on stage. I didn't care when they weren't on stage. I could easily cut 30 minutes from it. I could also modify another 30 minutes and make many scenes more about Bonnie & Clyde's fame from the media.

There are major problems with the libretto, direction, set, and projections. Performances are the best they can be (as was the case with WONDERLAND). Laura Osnes has a great voice but I thought she could have gone further with the character, especially with dialect. Jeremy Jordan is a star.

I don't see this lasting past January. It's a shame, because the underlying theme of a country going through tough times is very relevant to today.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:07am

I really do love this show.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:13am

Positive words like Jordan's have pretty much fully convinced me to see this show. I am also very intrigued to see what this Melissa person people have been raving about is like!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:17am

I am DYING to see this, but I will not get a chance to get to New York until the summer... I really hope these predictions about the show closing in January are wrong. This and Evita are at the top of my list for the summer.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 12:23am

In case anyone was wondering if Jeremy was going to take a leave from B&C for Newsies:
Check out his facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremy-Jordan/113725843407
Per the man himself:
"haha though its an intriguing thought to take a break from Bonnie and Clyde, its right in the middle of Tonys season and that just aint gonna happen!"

[jakebloke]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 5:40am

Anyone know or can comment on how Rush has been?

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 8:01am

I was wondering the same thing, jake. I want to go on Sunday so I was wondering what time I had to be there. (It's a 2 show day and I want to go to the evening performance.) Can't wait to see this!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 8:21am

In case anyone was wondering if Jeremy was going to take a leave from B&C for Newsies:
Check out his facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremy-Jordan/113725843407
Per the man himself:
"haha though its an intriguing thought to take a break from Bonnie and Clyde, its right in the middle of Tonys season and that just aint gonna happen!"

That's assuming Bonnie and Clyde is still running come Tony season, which is far from a sure thing.

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 1:06pm

According to Wickipedia, Jordan is 38.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 1:12pm

That Wikipedia entry is for a different actor named Jeremy Jordan. Jeremey Jordan (relevant to this conversation) is 26.

[singtopher]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:15pm

I saw it on Sunday and found it to be an enjoyable, though flawed, musical. Great performances from Osnes, Jordan, and particularly Van de Shyff (SP?) who should start shopping for a dress to wear to the Tony's in June. The source material is wonderfully compelling stuff for a musical with lots of high stakes and emotion everywhere. I actually think ***Spoiler ?*** Blanche should have had a song when she got arrested. Just a simple reprise of "you love who you love" or the song about jail. There is so much more material there with her plight to be a good Christian then getting sucked into this crime world by love than focusing on Buck's funeral and having to hear the little gospel song again. ***End spoiler***

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:21pm

thanks for clarifying

[ALittleCareless]

Posted: 11/16/11 at 3:31pm

Does anyone know if any significant changes have been made since previews began?

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 11/17/11 at 3:38pm

Can someone tell me how "How bout a dance" fits into the show plot wise?

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 11/18/11 at 12:46am

Yeah, shortly after Bonnie and Clyde flirt, amidst some flirting, she says she enjoys singing and belts out "How 'Bout a Dance." It's kind of treated as a chart-topping hit as later the Barrow Gang "listen" to the song on the radio. It doesn't directly advance the plot but it's worked in well enough and in my view, is one of the best songs in the show. It's still stuck in my head two weeks later...