Brooklyn Review 9/25

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:33pm

Brooklyn (Preview: Sept 25, 2004 8 PM)
I am normally a lurker on the board, but I actually have a lot to say about this show. It is all my thoughts/opinions, of course, and wanted to get it off my chest, with other people who are as enthusiastic about theatre (and new shows) as I am. That being said here is my review.

Coming into the theatre I looked at a pretty cool idea of a set. It seemed to be functional for what was needed throughout the show. And the idea of the set design was great, very cool to look at, fun, and embodied the story that was going to be told. However, it felt almost unfinished, which seems to be the theme of Brooklyn.

I felt the story was rushed. Rushed to get out this season. The plot is basic, and easy to follow, it was a “cute” story/fairytale. However, I think it needs A LOT of work. It should be off-Broadway, working to get to Broadway, not opening on Broadway in a month. The story itself felt like a slice of Swiss cheese, a lot of holes that needed to be filled. There is more of a story that wants to be told, but wasn’t. It is almost huge voids in the character developments (NOT the actors fault, but the writing) and I left saying “huh, okay” and not “oh my god! What a beautiful story.” Or even “What a cool story!” Which is sad for me, because I fell into the whole hype of Brooklyn, I was so excited to see it, and felt that the writer, and the even the producers, rushed to get it out there and didn’t finish the story they had to tell.

I think part of the problem is that they couldn’t pick what story, or theme, they wanted to express. Is it about a girl and her father? Is it about giving to charity? Is about war? Is it about family (and I use that word freely here)? Is it about art? Maybe it is about all of these things, but not one was fully developed to what it could be.

I also think that part of the problem was in the directing. I don’t understand some of the choices that were made (again NOT by the actors). There was one moment that really sticks out to me… there is a scene where Taylor (played by Kevin Anderson) is shooting up, and there is this unnecessary lighting effect, that just made me go “What the hell was the director thinking?” (And yes, that is the director, because it is his artistic vision, and the lighting designer gives it to him) There were other moments when I thought the blocking was messy. And I had a hard time thinking of what he was thinking, as a director, at that moment to give them that sort of blocking.

I did love the music. I thought the lyrics, and music were beautiful. Pretty, fun, a lot of energy. Great, great music. The “theme” song of the show started to get a little annoying after a while, but it was great music. I can’t think of a better word. But I was not let down there at all. It almost felt like they had all these great songs, so they tried to build a story around it, and that is what happened to the show. Because the music is just wonderful! I am not singing them today, but still great music.

As far as the actors go. What a talented cast. Being honest now…. I think Ramona Keller, Karen Olivio, Cleavant Derricks and Kevin Anderson were all wonderful. Ramona and Karen were above all else. They are great singers, had GREAT energy on stage, had a full character. Now, Eden Espinosa was wonderful as well. However, I went in expecting SOOOO much from her (from all this hype) and was a little let down. I thought her character was fun to watch, she is very pretty, and has a beautiful voice… except for those annoying (yes, I said annoying, to me they were) high notes she hits throughout the entire show. I would understand once during a song… yes she can hit them, we understand, but when the person sitting next to us was covering their ears when she hit those notes, you know it was too many, for no real reason (just to showcase her amazing gift) except to make his (and my) skin crawl. I think that “Streetsinger” (which is her last big number with Cleavant Derricks) was amazing. It was in her lower register and worked so well. She sounded so beautiful. If only she had done that (or maybe it was the composer/Musical directors choice?) more, I would have enjoyed her entire performance. But in general, I think the cast was great. And I really hope Ramona is nominated for a Tony this year, because she was just so funny, dead on, with great energy, a beautiful voice, and so wonderful to watch!

I also noticed a few tech issues that I am sure they will address. Seeing as it is only their 4th (I think 4th?) performance. But my friend did not really notice them, so it is just me and my sick, twisted way of looking at the tech stuff as well (hey what can I say? Being an SM does that to you). And it was mostly timing, and scene shift issues they need to work on, I think. Which, adding to the scene shift stuff (the actors do them), I really think an ensemble is needed for the show. It would fill it up more. But that is a whole different story.

One last thing, I think that the show is too long to run without an intermission, but yet too short to have one. I think that they should add or take away from the story. Of course, if you have read this whole thing, the story needs work/reworking anyway, so adding might help, if it helps in the character and story developments.

Okay, it was a nice show. It wasn’t anything that I will force all my friends and family to see, but it was cute. It was entertaining, and if it wasn’t for the annoying 4 year old (or whatever he was) behind me being cranky because he was tired, and the fidgety old man in front of me, it would have a nice (not wonderful!) evening at the theatre. Just sadly (and I am very sad I feel this way) nothing to write home about.

[Sunfish]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:39pm

Great review! Well written, thoughtful, with reasons to back your opinions. You should write more on the board I would surely like to read them. I also like hearing your perspective as a SM, very important job and extremely interesting to me.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:41pm

SM,

Could not agree with you more. I felt basically the same way. Great cast, amazing talent, excellent voices... BUT... weak plot, and forgettable songs. Does need work. I look forward to seeing it again. Hopefully, some changes to tighten the story, will be made.

Thanks for posting !!! And I hope that no one accuses you of getting paid to dis the show !!!

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:46pm

Look at that, a real post about the show that had NO hidden agenda. And herein lies the differnce between a shill and an actual, innocent, theatergoer. You all know how I feel about unecessary, mastu*batory high notes. Updated On: 9/26/04 at 01:46 PM

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:49pm

I hope that they do figure out ways to fill in the voids in the story. It just felt empty. But, the show does showcase the very talented cast, which is nice for them.

I wish I got paid to diss shows. Nice income there, isn't that what theatre critics do?

Thanks for the compliements, by the way.

[Sunfish]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:55pm

LOL, yeah SMDeeva, nice work if you can get it, huh???

[Testing1232]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:55pm

I wish they could fill the voids in the story too, but when we left the theater, I wondered where they could go with it. Remember telling my wife that there is too much to do as far as the story goes. I would have loved them to push the father/daughter storyline, and downplay the Paradice/Brooklyn
"showdown". For a while, especially at the end with the "boxing ring", I felt like I was watching "Breakin'".

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 1:58pm

Testing.. I agree... extend the father/daughter scenes, give Eden 2 more songs and play down the paradice showdown at the end. I mean if the show was called PARADICE in Blkyn then it would be perfect. Sometimes I felt I was watching Paradice's struggles as a streetwalker/entertainer than a fairytale about a girl searching for her dad.

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:03pm

Yes, very nice work, if you can get it. :)

I think the father/daughter storyline would have been so beautiful if they had developed it more. It felt very rushed. As if they were on a time crunch to get a skelton of a story out. If they had taken a deep breath, and slowed down, it may have had that. There is a lot to tell between Brooklyn being a little girl and then being famous in the US. What happened? We understand why she went to the US, obviously, but there is a lot to be told there (if it is good writing, if it isn't, don't bother). And there is a lot to be told about the father, that wasn't. By the end we understand why he never came back, but there is still a huge void there (if they are going to play the whole "war card", you have to give a little more, at least for me). Those are just some things I thought of (on what felt like the longest cab ride home).

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:07pm

WickedFan, exactly. But at the same time, why not develop that story too? So we understand her a lot more as well. It would have been nice to see her full story too. Where they both came from to get where they are, and this is the outcome. (I hope that makes sense.) If Paradice is so important, why not work on her character (writing wise) as well. And then the title is really about Brooklyn, not just a girl named Brooklyn.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:11pm

Thanks for a great, mature discussion guys !!! This is what makes the boards enjoyable ! I agree.... would love to get some money on the side as a "show disser". Wonder if they have ads in the NY Times looking for people? (Only mentioned that SM, because someone accused me in a post of getting paid to dis the show ! Ridiculous!)

Wonder what you guys/gals thought about the decision to have Eden play herself as a little girl ? (complete with baby voice and large bow in hair). I dont know... something didnt jive with me there.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:14pm

Great Review!

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:17pm

Testing, the bashing on here can be harsh sometimes (probably why I keep my mouth shut :) ). I love the "mature" converstations too, that is normally what I end up reading. And skim through the rest.

As far as Eden playing herself as a little girl. In the world of the play, I think it worked, for what they were trying to pull. But that doesn't really mean I liked it. Eden was adorable (that is me being nice), and I just don't understand the choice. That is another one of those director choices that I just didn't understand. If they had developed that whole part of the story, they could have used a little girl. But I guess since it is a "play within a play" it would not have made sense doing that.

Honestly, I think the 'play within the play' didn't work. For me. I would have written it very differently. But that is just me of course.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:26pm

Agree, SM.. Guess I am used to the part of little girl/little boy, being played by... little girl/little boy. It just didnt look right. It was real cheesy, in my opinion. I just didnt feel as bad for "Brooklyn" at that point as I might have had a young girl been cast in the part. (sort of the way that I felt bad for little Cosette in "Les Miz". )

As far as the bashing. I can take it anytime it is warranted. I am an adult with thick skin. When someone gets attacked for a differing opinion... well, that I dont go for. There are numerous people absolutely ripping the show apart on the ATC boards (and I certainly did not rip the show apart). I am sure that they are not all getting paid to dis the show. It does have its shortcomings. Whether or not people choose to see them is another thing.

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:30pm

I agree Testing. I think a lot of things were cheesy. I needed some nachos at certain points. And that was one of them. If there had been a young girl in the part, I probably would have hurt a little more, also if that part of the story had been developed more. There was no real attachment to the character, at least for me.

[ponine24601]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 2:49pm

GREAT REVIEW! thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us!

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 4:31pm

Great review.

I agree that I'm not sure BKLYN The Musical knows what it wants to be. There are a lot of themes running at you. The Vietnam thread, while so effectively acted, seems to come out of nowhere.

I'm okay with the play-within-a-play bit. It was framed nicely, with just one song outside of the "play" (Heart behind these hands)

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 5:10pm

I agree with that thought, about the Vietnam War coming out of no where. Yes, we know he was drafted from the beginning, however it felt almost like a cop-out, a good excuse for him. With no real emotional background, or getting deep into the point of what the war did to a lot of the young men that fought for the US. If they wanted to use it, they should have brought it out more. (Again, that is just my two cents!)

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 5:13pm

Agreed. OK, another thing that bothered me. (And I REALLY liked the show). The whole Paradice blackmailing Taylor into not showing up. It was silly. (Yeah, no sillier than the Wizard of Oz trying to bribe Elphaba into being "Wonderful", but still)

[SMDeeva]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 5:19pm

I agree with that too. :)

I felt that whole bribe thing came out of nowhere. I understand it, but it wasn't fully developed. Paradice sings "Raven" and then gives Taylor s**t to shoot up? C'mon. It was a little off in my mind. It needed it, I think, the idea behind it worked for me, but again it was just a little bit of a void that needed to be filled.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/26/04 at 5:37pm

I agree with most of what's been said so far. I liked the play within a play thing...it allowed for that little twist at the end.

I agree, it was very very cheesey at some parts. The "Magic Man" part, as well as the whole idea of a sing off. Unfortunately, I think the part that needs to be fixed up the most is the story itself. It's a bit rushed, and well...trite.

Other than that, I thought it looked beautiful. I loved the performers and some characters. The music was wonderful...so soulful and energetic. I really enjoyed it...it was a unique experience overall.

I really hope they fix up some plot elements that were just silly...I don't think they have enough time to mend it all.