I saw this LAST Saturday. I can't say I was disappointed, because between word of mouth HERE and the professional reviews, I was expecting to want to shove hot forks in my eyes.
I thought it was....adequate. A horrid word, I realize, but that's about it. I didn't want my money back, nor will I spend another penny on it. My children, 9 & 12 enjoyed it, but it's not either of their 'favorite' show.
ACTING:
Stamos -- pick a character, but just one please. He seemed to be entirely different character in almost every scene, and I didn't care about any of them. His lack of dancing was sinful.
Gershon -- so missed the mark, but it wasn't that she wasn't trying. She lacked truth and lacked chemistry with Stamos. I only heard a few clunker notes, but didn't enjoy her singing.
Trimm -- sang prettily, but Kim was about as boring as watching bread toast.
Doyle -- a nice job, it was great to hear him sing on stage as well. But he was one of the only ones to "get" this style of musical theater.
Funk -- as most have said, not terrible, but not complete either. (I give him points for posing for pix with my dd at SD and totally thrilling her speechless. She is the envy of her middle school.)
Irwin -- Whaaaa? Had my son in stiches (he's nine and still laughs when you say "fart".), but I just scratched my head in disbelief with his choices.
Kids chorus -- loud and energetic, yes; but lacking depth and commitment to characters.
Houdyshell -- there was nothing charming about Albert's mom, she was just mean. We don't love her or feel for her at all -- and we should.
Of course, we should CARE about all of them....but I didn't.
When it comes down to it this is a bad mixture of total miscasting, but more tragically, HORRIBLE direction/choreography. A better equipped director could have overcome the poor choices in casting and (to quote Tim Gunn) made it work. This is BBB not Shakespeare. Even THIS cast SHOULD have made it shine.
I was entertained in spite of its flaws, in the same way you are entertained at decent HS theater. But GOOD HS theater could have been better than this...in fact, makes me sort of want to direct it next year. Hmmmmm...
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
