Saw this during the matinee performance yesterday, and it was by far the best musical I've seen yet (which doesn't mean too much as I'm relatively new to this, but bear with me). It at least blew the 6 shows I had seen on my Broadway trip last month out of the water. Most of the positive things I could say have already been said, but still to reiterate - very touching and uplifting story despite such a huge tragedy being the backdrop, though it does have a few good serious and sad moments. Really feels like it gives such a full panorama of all the varying experiences among all the people involved, and it was impressive that it was able to be done with such a small cast. I had never heard of Jenn Colella before and didn't know she was already a big name, but she did amaze me during the show, and her solo song as the pilot was the peak to me.
The only "downside" I suppose I could call it would be the fact that, as South FL mentioned in his review, many of the songs do not give the audience a chance to applaud. On one hand, I like that this makes the show so fast-paced and really helps the tone in that you're just constantly going through all the different viewpoints of this. On the other hand, most audiences aren't going to know about this, and they're going to have the instinctual expectation that every show will have a pause afterwards for applause. The result was that for SO MANY songs, I had problems making out what was being said in the next scene because most of the audience began clapping as soon as the song ended while the actors immediately moved onto the next scene, and it would take a few seconds for the applauders to realize there wasn't a a pause and stop. Not sure if this is more a problem with the audience or the show, and I do think the lack of pauses helps its tone, but it would be nice of there was a way to let the audience know beforehand that they shouldn't clap after the songs here. I do feel at least a pause for applause should have been had after Colella's pilot song, as that one had the whole theater bursting into applause, only to them sheepishly quiet down while the next scene was already underway. I understand pacing, but you have to let the audience unleash that energy sometimes, especially with a performance like that!
Of course, at the end of the show it was probably the longest applause I'd ever seen for a show. Standing ovations for several minutes, even after the cast left as the band then took the stage and played to more applause. As people were leaving I overheard many people of all ages outright say that was the best musical and most beautiful show they had ever seen in their lives.
The show really benefited from being in such a small, intimate setting as Ford's Theatre. I do hope the Schoenfeld will be intimate enough to give it, because this is NOT the kind of show that I think viewing from the rear of a far-off balcony would be good for - being, or at least FEELING close to the performers is vital to sharing all those experiences. I've never been to the Schoenfeld so I'll leave that debate to those who have, but I still hope that no matter what seat people get, they'll be able to feel like they're right there.
In short, definitely a fantastic show and a MUST-SEE while in Broadway. I understand it will have very tough competition this season from the likes of Evan Hanson, Great Comet, Anastasia, and Amelie, and to be fair I still need to see those, but I really do hope this show wins at the Tonys. At the very least this show deserves nominations. If it somehow gets snubbed or left behind I will be VERY upset!
Updated On: 9/19/16 at 10:37 AM
