Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 7:26pm
Easily the most exciting show to hit Broadway in years. A true downtown show which manages to rejuvinate Broadway. It's also the best musical of the season thus far.
Not without its problems - the whole second act is just momentum killer after momentum killer - the "experimental" section doesn't really fit. Cut 20 minutes and it would be even better.
Fantastic score of pure rock-and-roll that isn't bastardized for Broadway. If you're going in expecting Guys and Dolls, you'll hate it. If you know you're in for a rock concert, you'll love it.
Updated On: 2/17/08 at 07:26 PM
#2re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 7:42pmSaw it last week... absolutely loved it. Agreed that the second act drags at point, but I found myself in tears the last 15 minutes of the show. Was sad to see the theatre so empty... hopefully word of mouth will help it? It's pretty wonderful.
Ed_Mottershead
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/20/05
#2re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 8:00pm
I've been fence-sitting on this one; both your comments seem to tell me that I should wait until the last week of previews -- I'm really interested, but want to see it in its finalized form. Would appreciate comments/advice from/both either of you. Thank you.
BroadwayEd
Updated On: 2/17/08 at 08:00 PM
Rotel1026
Broadway Star Joined: 8/12/06
#3re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 8:15pmI hope the crowds pick up for it. I'm going to be in NYC at the end of April and would love to get the chance to see this.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#4re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 8:18pm
Ed, the show is in fantastic shape and the whole production is such a well-oiled machine that you think they've been doing the show for years.
It's really not everyone's cup of tea - it's more Hedwig than Spring Awakening.
And they lyrics are so incredibly intelligent - I challenge anyone to be able to refer to Albert Camus' "The Stranger" in song.
#5re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 8:23pm
As I said in my report ..the 1st 20 mins of second ACT is a bit untolerable...I wish they iron that out... If you dont like YELLING... make sure you take extra 20 mins after the intermission..but its something to experience but dont blame me...if you dont like it...
youve been warned...
I LOVE THE show ! bec. I looked at it as a "whole". I think it has a potential to be a succesful show...like Yankeefan had said.. if youre expecting MAME & HELLO DOLLY.. Forget it! This is not the show for you.....
But if you can open your mind to NEW & UNCONVENTIONAL THINGS...you'll have a blast!
I am glad you like it -yankeefan! 
J*
Updated On: 2/17/08 at 08:23 PM
chris d
Broadway Star Joined: 4/21/07
#6re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 8:37pm
It's really not everyone's cup of tea - it's more Hedwig than Spring Awakening.
And they lyrics are so incredibly intelligent - I challenge anyone to be able to refer to Albert Camus' "The Stranger" in song.
*ears perk up*
#7re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 9:01pm
I got a pair of tix for $48 a piece (thank you, BroadwayBox!) for March 5th. I'm in the first few rows ... I just hope I don't go home with severe hearing loss.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#8re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 9:04pm
You people make it out to sound like you've never been to a rock concert before.
#9re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 10:01pmAct 2 has its problems, but it isn't THAT problematic. It's probably going to stay the way it is when it opens, with perhaps a few tweaks. I loved the show. The score is so intelligent and the book is surprisingly strong and the performances so top notch. My only real problem with the show was the sound. It's VERY loud. I only find that an issue because sometimes the volume is so loud that you can't hear the lyrics. And the lyrics are so good that they can't afford to be not heard. Definitely see the show. It's quite an experience. Unless "In the Heights" has made improvements since Off-Broadway (very good show, but it was very muddled), I can't see how "Passing Strange" won't win Best Score. It's SO good.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
#10re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 10:04pmI may just have to see this in May. Good.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#11re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 10:09pm
"I challenge anyone to be able to refer to Albert Camus' "The Stranger" in song."
The Cure wrote a whole song about it in 1978.
kmc
Jesus saves. I spend.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#12re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/17/08 at 10:12pm
I actually had a harder time understanding the lyrics (and sound mixing) in In the Heights.
And yes, Stew's score is...just so much more original! And I loved the In the Heights score.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#14re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 7:03am
Stew is really really cool and i, too, hope this show picks up an audience. he made mention to me that you kinda wanna see it during the evening because when i saw it (on Saturday's matinee) there were a lot of people holding their hands over their ears and not really jamming out with the story like they needed to be.
the comparisons to Kurt Weill seem apt. a truly angst-ridden HONEST story of a normal African-American male trying to "pass" for strange.
AMAZING lighting, definitely
#15re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 8:29am...i just don't get it...Yankee, you really thought the score to PS was better than ITH???
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#16re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 8:37am
Very much. But I can understand how it's not everyone's cup of tea. It's definitely a show which will create a divide.
What did you not like about the whole show?
#17re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 10:22am
"What did you not like about the whole show?"
The acting, the music, the book, the sets (practially non-existent), the lighting (blinding), the fact that I had a splitting headache midway through Act 1 and for the rest of the show.
To be honest, I think I just didn't get it. A lot of the audience was moving to the beat of the music and seemed really into it, and frankly, I couldn't wait to get out of there. I still question how many of the audience members actually knew what was going on...maybe they were just getting into the music. There were a handful of people who did leave in the middle of Act 1. If someone asked me what Passing Strange was about, the only thing I would be able to tell them is "It's about this guy Stew's life and he goes to Amsterdam, does drugs and has sex...and the music is extremely loud." If the show has a deeper meaning than that, I didn't get it at all.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#18re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 10:25amMy idea was that it's about the inspiration for art.
leefowler
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
#19re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:19pmThe show is definitely weird and enigmatic, and there were sections where I wasn't 100% what the author was getting at. But the brilliant score, and the energy behind Stew's creative vision was so strong that I didn't care much. This is a Broadway show written by someone with no concern about traditional Broadway form. It's a complete original. Finally, a new Broadway musical that isn't designed to be a tourist trap!
Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#20re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 12:40pmI might have to check this show out. It seems like something I'd like. I'm tired of the old-fashioned. I think this would be a good show to couple with "Sunday..." because they seem like opposite ends of the spectrum, but yet have the same themes.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#21re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 4:12pm
Definitely.
In fact, interesting combo. I should have tried that.
#22re: Briefly, on PASSING STRANGE
Posted: 2/18/08 at 4:13pm
Rentboy86- Definitely see this and Sunday in the Park... I think that's the two best shows that's playing on Broadway right now... I saw it one week a part and I was just blown away. I wont be suprised if PASSING STRANGE won the Tonys... I wish SITPWG wins the TONYS too for Revival...
J*
Updated On: 2/18/08 at 04:13 PM
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