#3
Posted: 2/6/16 at 6:49pm
Paper Mill's track record with original musicals is usually dismal. They range from inept to barely passable. However, A Bronx Tale is quite good already. The score is really solid, the staging first rate, the sets attractive and the cast, with one exception, is strong. It's in the grand old tradition of musicals. So if you think every show has to be a clone of Hamilton, you will not like it, but taken on its own terms, the show works well -- most of the way. Some character transitions are weak and a couple of the dramatic moments in act two are not working because they feel too abrupt. Also, the scenes between Jane and C are flat, but I'm not sure if that is the writing or the performance. I tend to lean to the latter because the rest of the book is crisp, brisk, and funny, Anyway, I thought act one a squeak stronger than act two, But, overall, it's in darn good shape at this point.
PS I thought I never wanted to see Nick Cordero again after sitting through the embarrassing, horrific Brooklynite, But he is terrific here.
#4
Posted: 2/6/16 at 9:48pm
So glad to hear this! I admire a lot of the folks involved. Can't wait to see it.
#5
Posted: 2/7/16 at 1:23am
I love a Menken score (usually...Leap of Faith?) ... so I want to trek out and see this.
#6
Posted: 2/7/16 at 2:49am
PS I thought I never wanted to see Nick Cordero again after sitting through the embarrassing, horrific Brooklynite, But he is terrific here.
Did you see Bullets Over Broadway? The show was...not good, but I thought Nick Cordero was wonderful in it.
I'm quite curious about this as well. Based on the caliber of the cast and Menken's involvement I'm wondering if they're aiming for Broadway.
#7
Posted: 2/7/16 at 6:37am
I also thought Cordero was great in Bullets and look forward to seeing this show in a few weks at Papermill. Thanks for the early review Jay...
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
#8
Posted: 2/7/16 at 8:09am
I saw the show last night. The evening started with a delay, 2 very loud sound glitches before the show started,mother performed the majority of the first number before the voice from the speaker came on to inform us of a technical difficulty and there would be a delay, to which Jason Gotay was midline and made a comical expression when he was interrupted. There was a slight break then they started again from the top, that was the only delay of the evening.
Now onto the show. I overall really enjoyed the show. There is some polishing and needs some minor work but overall it was in pretty great shape. The cast is uniformly strong save for one member I just think was having an off night. It's very nice to see Richard H Blake originating a role in a show again. I'm a huge Nick Cordero fan so I can never say enough great things about him. Jason Gotay I thought was very good and the kid who plays young C was wonderful. The score was very good for the most part, pretty catchy and I enjoyed the majority of the numbers it overall really did fit the piece. The book is sharp witty and true to what it needs to be. Very much like the movie and the play its close to Mr Palminteris heart and it shows. Direction was pretty good. Set was good, I didn't notice any projections if there were any I thought they utilized the pieces and space well. Overall one would be hard pressed to not think they have Broadway on the mind with the show which isn't a stretch. Some work and I see no reason why this can't be a smart investment for them. Time will tell but that's just my opinion, would love to hear others thoughts!
#9
Posted: 2/14/16 at 11:21am
"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." This is the quote Lorenzo (Richard Blake) tells his son Calogero at the beginning of A Bronx Tale - The Musical. An upbeat coming of age story from the 60's Belmont Avenue section of the Bronx. Calogero is befriended by mobster Sonny (Nick Cordero) who renames him C and serves as a secondary father figure. C starts to believe that the working man is a sucker. Herein lies the conflict that helps propel the plot.
Menken's score is fine. Sections are reminiscent of Little Shop. My favorite song is "Out of Your Head." Choreography was fine but I just expected more if it. Nick Cordero knows how to play a mobster to a T. He brings it again here.
The sets by Beowulf Boritt (Therese Raquin, Act I) are outstanding. You really feel like you are transported back to a 60's Bronx neighborhood rife with the community of all those fire escapes.
There is little chemistry between C and Jane and although both Jason Gotay and Coco Jones can sing admirably, I was left wanting more out of their supposed love for one another.
The direction is fast paced with Act I playing better than II. Shout out to Vincenzo Faruolo (understudy) who went on as Young Calogero. He was really engaging. I remember this kid from the ensemble of A Christmas Story which played a few months ago at Papermill. He was a standout in that too.
Overall I had an enjoyable time.
#11
Posted: 2/15/16 at 3:26pm
1st review-The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/a-bronx-tale-musical-theater-865401?utm_source=twitter
#12
Posted: 2/15/16 at 4:16pm
Wow.That was a near-rave.
And I love this:
....it retains a fierce emotional immediacy in this terrifically entertaining musical, which could well make its way to Broadway.
....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 2/15/16 at 04:16 PM
#13
Posted: 2/15/16 at 7:02pm
Dying to see this! Hopefully I can catch it this week. And on a side note... since when is the Paper Mill's record dismal? Newsies, Band Stand, Hunchback?
Also... to defend LEAP OF FAITH... I sincerely feel like the score's problems were not Menken's fault but were actually the fault of the orchestrations (Michael Starobin and Joseph Joubert) which made all the songs sound exactly the same by way of Baptist Revival Gospel Brunch.
Glad to see the good reviews! Hope this finds a home on Broadway soon!!!
#14
Posted: 2/18/16 at 8:49pm
Where is the buzz on this show? I had to go back three pages to find this thread. With its A-list creative team, this is a sure bet for Broadway. But some less than enviable reviews from the likes of Variety and the Daily News don't bode well for its chances.
#15
Posted: 2/27/16 at 11:35pm
I saw this tonight and thought it was a good production for a regional theater. I'm not sure it is strong enough for a Broadway run, and may go the same way of Honeymoon in Vegas. A couple of good songs but nothing extraordinary and not a lot of energy in way of dancing. Some thin vocals but a great job by the young actor who portrays young C. Nick Cordero does his usual solid job, I just wish he carried more of the singing load.
For all the impressive creative team members, I guess I was expecting more but all it all, it was a decent production. The Papermill Playhouse continues to produce quality regional theater. Looking forward to seeing Pump Boys and Dinettes.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
Updated On: 2/27/16 at 11:35 PM
#16
Posted: 2/28/16 at 2:56pm
Saw this yesterday, afternoon. It's a good show, but not a great one.
Others have given plot points, so I won't rehash. I saw the movie years ago and I think it's a good story with a lot of heart and not a bad choice for musical material.
There is much to like, but the show needs work before it moves to Broadway, which seems to be the plan.
The cast is uniformly good, save Jason Gotay, who is quite talented, but just very wrong for the part of the older 'C'. Never once did I believe he was living this life in the Bronx. Indiana, maybe. Three of us went and it was everyone's first and biggest complaint. It does impact the whole show and detracts from any chemistry he might have with Jane, the girl he likes. Nick Cordero is very good as Sonny, the gangster and Richard H. Blake is also very good as the dad. Joshua Colley, who plays Young 'C' is outstanding and I wish he had a larger role.
The music is enjoyable and very much of the 50s and 60s style. The dancing is energetic and fun, but there isn't as much as I would have hoped with Sergio Trujillo doing the choreography.
The staging is fine, but just fine. It's evocative of the period, but at times, I thought it seemed a little cheap and sparse. The projections are not intrusive and work well, when used.
This is a 2 hour musical, including intermission. They should cut the intermission and make this an hour and 40 minutes. The second act has only 5 songs and 5 very short reprises of songs from the first act and it shows. The second act is weaker and shorter and should be beefed up a bit, with some continuing conflict, rather than just a tidy resolution of loose ends. Tie the two acts together and tighten up the writing and it would flow well. I did wish they would beef up the mother's character, a bit, but it's not a must, since this is really a father/son story.
Audience reaction seemed positive. It did get a standing ovation, which not everything does at Papermill. I thought it was worth sincere applause, but it's not standing ovation material, yet.
Glad I saw it and would recommend it. Hopefully, they work on it some. It would be nice to see it succeed, elsewhere.
On a side note, this show seems to be pretty well sold out for the run, but the top ticket at Papermill is now $140!!! Holy cow.
#18
Posted: 2/28/16 at 3:25pm
There was limited standing ovation when I saw it last night, pretty much the first 3-4 rows in Orchestra and a few in the mezz. It was actually very refreshing not to see an obligatory O when it truly isn't warranted. I wish Broadway audiences will follow suit.
As far as the limited buzz for this show, I think it's pretty evident that this show is not ready for the big stage. Good but not that good, imho.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
#19
Posted: 2/28/16 at 7:34pm
I think if it goes to Broadway, as is, it will suffer the same fate as Honeymoon In Vegas. And, I wonder if the lack of buzz about the show has to do with the lack of interest in seeing it again, as a musical, after a one man show and a film.
#20
Posted: 2/29/16 at 11:28am
Saw this over the weekend. Maybe I went in with high expectations after reading Isherwood's review, but I was completely underwhelmed. I don't think this material was helped by being adapted into a musical. The transitions from book to song felt unconnected and the songs slowed down the action instead of propelling things forward.
(spoiler)
I was also pretty horrified by the staging in the final scene. Having the actors play a heartfelt moment directly behind the coffin was an odd choice. You could only see the actors from the waist up and it was very distracting. It took all emotion out of the scene between father and son. Maybe I'm alone in that opinion and maybe it has some sort of symbolic significance, but it really took me out of the moment.
I can't imagine this doing well on Broadway without some serious work, but it has the support of the New York Times as is, so who knows?
#21
Posted: 2/29/16 at 1:53pm
Going tomorrow night (Tuesday March 1st). One of the reasons I'm going is to support/see Joshua Colley as young C. I'm sure his understudy is fantastic per reviews I've seen, but I'd be disappointed to go and miss Josh. Anyone know what the schedule is on that?
#22
Posted: 3/6/16 at 11:48pm
Saw the closing tonight and the show was on fire. Immediate well deserved standing ovation. This is the best musical I've seen since Hamilton and I very much think it could win the tony if it opened next season. Hopefully the kids voice isn't about to change because he was the most natural performer on the stage. His song got the loudest applause of the night. It needs a few cast changes but that's about it. I only saw honeymoon in Vegas after opening on Broadway and this was a far superior musical. I'd love to see Jeremy Jordan and Nikki M James as the leads.
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