Bounce- was it really that bad?

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 9:57pm

it was such a flop and I've heard such terrible things about it. I just can't imagine a sondheim show being bad.

[Caleb]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:12pm

I never saw the show, but I'd heard everything that you've heard. What I gathered from people who'd seen it was that the script was a little confused; it didn't know if it wanted to be a scathing social commentary, or a character piece about two brothers, or a song and dance musical comedy about two "wise guys". Because of the lukewarm reception, I never even bothered to pick up the cast recording.

Until just a few months ago. What I was surprised to find was what I can only imagine the biggest problem is: Sondheim's score itself. Bounce finds Sondheim writing a score that's a throwback to the era he started in - traditional musical comedy. This is not necessarily a bad idea, and the score isn't really bad, I just don't think it was a good fit for Sondheim. I've always defended Sondheim when people say that he can't write a good melody, which is simply not true, but it IS true that writing melodies doesn't seem to be his only concern and it isn't what he does best. The problem with an old fashioned score, which is what Bounce seems to want to be, is that it really sinks or swims on the quality and charm of the melodies. Sondheim simply isn't enough of a melodist to do a score like this justice. I was also shocked to find what I would consider to be the most immature, poorly crafted lyrics that Sondheim has ever written. I don't know if it was simply a miscalculation on his part in trying to achieve a certain tone, but I wouldn't have even believed that Sondheim had written some of the lyrics himself if his name weren't on the front of the CD.

All of this criticism aside, I don't think that Bounce is really all that bad (again, I'm just commenting on the score as it is represented on the disc). I feel like it just doesn't ignite the listener. It's not good, and it's not bad: it's lukewarm and unexciting, which is perhaps the worst thing it could be.

[nealb1]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:24pm

I saw it in Chicago when it played there. It did need a lot of work. The story didn't really seem to have any set direction....by that, I mean, the story was just ok..........wasn't really a good enough story to make into a stage piece, let alone a stage musical. Michelle Pawk was very, very good. Of course, she's terrific in everything that she does. But, even she couldn't rise above the material.

I did like Act 2 much better than Act 1. At least with Act 2, there was plot development and so forth. This was 3 years ago, so my memory of the show isn't that fresh in my mind.

"You Are The Best Thing That's Ever Happened, So Far" was the best song in the show and it was Michelle's.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:28pm

I saw the show in its Chicago incarnation and was shocked by how bad it was. Aside from having a terribe book, the score and lyrics are not very good.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:37pm

I agree. It's one of Sondheim's least memorable scores

[Horton]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:45pm

From what I have heard Sondheim just did not want to fix it, and did not think it was that good himself, thought it was a good idea on paper, but not in practice. I have a very high respect for him for doing this, so often we find writers who are not able to admit when somthing they do is wrong, and Sondheim totally does the opposite.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 11:37pm

I don't think it was that bad. Yes, it had book problems but what show dosen't!? The score in my opinion was great (with an exception of a few songs.) I LOVE this show! I like it more than A LOT of his other shows (Like A Little Night Music and Pacific Overtures)

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 12:07am

I have only heard ONE song from it, and it just so happens to be one of my favorite songs....

"Talent"--I effin adore Gavin Creel...so that may have SOMETHING to do with it.

[white guy]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 12:31am

I saw the first preview in chicago...not so that i could be a vulture, but because i'm such a Sondheim nut. it was amazing...sat in the stage left box...over the audience at the goodman, and hal prince and his daughter sat in the opposite box. from that vantage point amazing to watch the audience grow perplexed....the energy BEFORE the show was intense....such hype....then the first scene started...and went on...and one of them died...and there was a huge sound...like the sweeney whistle effect...but it was a loud "door shut" sound....which happened a few times in the show. they also took off fake noses/necks if i remember correctly, that made them look old. then the first song started, and showed that these guys are dishonest jerks that don't get along. Then we saw a two and a half hour musical about these people we didn't care about. i really thought richard kind was perfect...lovable in the part. the song "talent" really stood out, as did "the best thing that ever has happened to me"....the recording made that song more of a joke...with the "bull****" line, etc...it originally was more sincere, and reprised throughout. the "you, where have you been all my life" got a big laugh...but there were very confusing sets...like a vaudeville....drops rolled in, and became a doorway or the bedroom...the church became the bed, and then a boxing ring, then a gunfight...it was just confusing. afterwards, i remember speaking to gavin creel in the lobby..."this is surreal...i just had pizza with sondheim" speaking of the cast party upstairs, and hal prince even posed for a photo..only after i told him i was an actor. i also hailed a cab for jane powell...amazing, she was hailing her own cab...a MGM star. i overheard after the show that hal prince was heading out of town and they were going to let the show "settle" and come back before opening...they literally just waited for the critics. i'm not an expert, but i could see the problem....your protagonists are assholes. somehow you have to get the audience to like them. i saw the show in DC later...not a first preview...it really wasn't any better, though changes were made. the score on cd really reminds me of many of sondheim's shows....sunday/into the woods/assassins/follies. it's a fun cd for a sondheim fan to study. last i heard they did a reading at the public theatre with bernadette peters, richard kind, marc kudish, and john mcmartin....sondheim has said he's working on it, and i think a new version of it will be the last thing we as the public get out of him. It's not horrible...but it's not top drawer. but how can you compare his career to this show? he's given us so much. kudos to the genius he is. he's also said he doesn't think he can live up to people's expectations....and was just writing an old fashioned musical comedy. i hope he pulls it out and NY sees it...i had tickets to the benefit one night NY concert debut of bounce, and it was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales...sad. back in the day...richard rodgers/jule styne could get something done on broadway no matter how late in their career....sad that our greatest treasure wasn't supported to get this one in. sorry so long...that's my 2 cents on it.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 11:02am

quite simply, it was a massive BORE.

[tgrabon]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 12:05pm

I too saw it in Chicago. It wasn't bad...just forgettable. It had no point. Just these two brothers scamming across the country. Not one song jumped out at me.

[WalkOn]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 2:02pm

I saw it in Chicago too. Not an embarassment by any means. My problem is that we are told what charming huskers these two are, but we in the audience never saw do anything all that charming or clever. They never "conned" us, the audience. The show was pretty short on the knee-slapping humor the subject matter was screaming for.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 2:11pm

Yes, it was that bad. "Talent" was the only song I really enjoyed. None of the characters were likeable and I found that I really didn't care what happened to them.