Capeman Score (Minority Shows)

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:24pm

Has anyone else noticed how beautiful this score is? Incredible well-crafted music and some of the most authentic detail in Latin America rhythm and musical style, as well as many other styles of early rock, etc.

I think it's fair to say that this show was treated poorly by critics across the board, but after speaking to a handful of people who have seen it, a few a number of times, it seems as though this was treated unfairly. I've heard great things about the sets, the performers (some actual Salseros), and Im beginning to think that no matter how good or bad this show was in reality, the critics were probably set against it to begin with. It's the most original thing I've heard to be mounted on Broadway in years. It's a shame that so much dreck goes on year after year (not that there's anything wrong with entertainment) and critics drool over it when this heartfelt, tender, beautiful musical was treated so shabbily.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 4:57pm

Having actually seen The Capeman, I can vouch that the score, the sets and the actors were good. However it was not a good show and there lies its failure.

The staging was weak, the score was not a good show score and ultimately I didn't care about anyone onstage.

The songs as songs are impressive but they did not add up nor build to any sort of a climax. It is more of a song cycle than anything else.

Good songs cannot hide a weak show, good sets cannot disguise poor direction and actors cannot be expected to make a silk purse no matter how fine the pigskin.

The Capeman was dull which is the greatest theatrical sin of all.

Simon didn't help matters at all when he went on the record as saying he didn't like musicals. What in the hell was he doing there then? If you are going to change the direction of the American musical, first you must understand the current direction. Simon did not do his homework.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:05pm

It was a boring show. Plus it was confusing moving from reality to fantasy (showing a video clip of the actual Salvador for reality, then moving into fantasy by having the young Sal and the older Salvador together onstage.)

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:13pm

In Simon's defense, Stravinsky and Rorem hated opera, and they still write them, some of them good.

[sidjones09]

Posted: 1/9/07 at 5:24pm

I don't know if this is a valid point or not, but I would say that opera is a different case because it's all music and Stravinsky and Rorem were great composers. They didn't have to worry about dealing with dialogue and book scenes. All they had to do was write great music to capture each moment which they very rarely failed at in any other genre, so hence the decent operas.

Again, I could be completely wrong Fenchurch. Do you or anyone else have any thoughts?