#1
Posted: 1/11/04 at 5:07pm
I was just thinking about the show. I saw the premiere at the Goodman in Chicago and was seriously underwhelmed and I was wondering why. For the most part, I just didn't care about the brothers or what happened to them. The show was completely anticlimactic and lacking in warmth which probably accounted for my reaction to the brothers.
First of all, I think Prince's "vaudeville" staging, while clever in a few places, really needs to go. The second act was much more interesting as it abandonded the gimmicky set pieces.
The role of the mother could be beefed up a bit. Her favoritism was obvious and could be played on much more. I think she had a huge influence on the decisions each of the boys made. I would like to see more exploration of her "love" for each of the sons and why she always turned a blind eye to McGillis' character.
The rivalry between the brothers over the girl in the first act could be elevated as well illustrating the competitiveness of the two. This could also contrast (musically?) the homosexual turn of Kind's character in the second act.
The only point in the show where I was really interested in the story was the Boca Raton venture. I wanted to know why it failed, but the show never really explained it. It was the most impressive scene visually in the show, but the bland score did not support the staging. It comes to a sudden halt when the venture fails, causing the brothers to once again be bankrupt, but it happens in the staging, but not in the book. I think much of the first act could be cut (especially the opening scene) and some of the second to be shifted to the first. Let Boca Raton dominate the second act as well as the romantic relationships and build the destruction of the venture and the relationships together as the climax of the show. Heighten the emotions of the characters; the girl that marries and then leaves and then reappears, the male lover that also leaves, the brothers' reconciliation and inevitable severence. The were so few moments in which the characters really seemed to feel anything. Only Kind's character and his lover had songs that really seemed to express genuine emotion.
I would like to see Sondheim's newest work succeed, but the way it is, I don't think anyone other than hardcore Sondheim fans will be motivated to see it.
Anyone else see the show that may have some thoughts?
First of all, I think Prince's "vaudeville" staging, while clever in a few places, really needs to go. The second act was much more interesting as it abandonded the gimmicky set pieces.
The role of the mother could be beefed up a bit. Her favoritism was obvious and could be played on much more. I think she had a huge influence on the decisions each of the boys made. I would like to see more exploration of her "love" for each of the sons and why she always turned a blind eye to McGillis' character.
The rivalry between the brothers over the girl in the first act could be elevated as well illustrating the competitiveness of the two. This could also contrast (musically?) the homosexual turn of Kind's character in the second act.
The only point in the show where I was really interested in the story was the Boca Raton venture. I wanted to know why it failed, but the show never really explained it. It was the most impressive scene visually in the show, but the bland score did not support the staging. It comes to a sudden halt when the venture fails, causing the brothers to once again be bankrupt, but it happens in the staging, but not in the book. I think much of the first act could be cut (especially the opening scene) and some of the second to be shifted to the first. Let Boca Raton dominate the second act as well as the romantic relationships and build the destruction of the venture and the relationships together as the climax of the show. Heighten the emotions of the characters; the girl that marries and then leaves and then reappears, the male lover that also leaves, the brothers' reconciliation and inevitable severence. The were so few moments in which the characters really seemed to feel anything. Only Kind's character and his lover had songs that really seemed to express genuine emotion.
I would like to see Sondheim's newest work succeed, but the way it is, I don't think anyone other than hardcore Sondheim fans will be motivated to see it.
Anyone else see the show that may have some thoughts?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
