Can we talk about Bright Star?

I didn't locate a thread quickly enough so, in advance, my apologies if you've tread/trod this already. What? What? What? Steve Martin: this isn't "Underpants" or "Lapin Agile." What happened? Oh my goodness. "Hamilton" was a mixtape made into a musical. "Bright Star" should have been a mixtape that should have stayed a mixtape. The music and the harmonies are gorgeous. The lyrics, well, I was finishing the lines though I'd never heard the songs before. I have a Rhyming Dictionary, too. But SPOILER (don't read further; I mean it): the book - how do you write that Act One closer then open Act Two with a jolly blue grass number played by the band followed by another happy number? And THEN the only way I could imagine you could redeem the story is what you did and it was manipulative and cynical. Again, I could see it coming but I couldn't imagine you or the Broadway producers would pull that gimmick. I can't forgive that Act One finale plot point. It's too savage. Is this play "Buried Child (Psych!): The Musical"? 

 

 

Updated On: 4/10/16 at 07:08 PM

Can we talk about the two other Bright Star threads that are on the first page of this board?

I enjoyed the show very much. Thank you, though, for creating another unnecessary thread to rant illegibly. 

I thought the show was beautiful with some really great performances. I loved the music (gonna by that cast recording), and thought it had a great book. Yea, the "twist" was predictable, but the way the story was told, I don't even think it was trying to be a "surprise". If you have 2 storylines like that told alongside each other of course they are gonna be connected. But the way it played out, and thanks to wonderful, heartfelt acting it still made me cry. It didn't matter that I knew it was gonna happen. And that's the reason why I thought the show has such a good book: it evoked emotion. It made me cry, and then it made me laugh almost in the same instant. It had a perfect balance.

 

And btw, the musical is based on a true event, as I learned from an interview with Steve Martin. I'm gonna use the spoiler thingy for this though.