CapnHook revisits PASSING STRANGE [the spike lee film] and is confused.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 2:43pm

To sum up my thoughts after seeing the show during previews:

I thought PASSING STRANGE was 'OK.' I thought that it was over-praised due to it being a "new" style of show on Broadway. A performance art piece disguised as a rock concert disguised as a Broadway show. During several moments of the show, I thought it was profound, other moments I felt very confused, other moments I felt bored, other moments I was in love with the show.

An incident occurred during the show where I (sitting in the front row orchestra left) during one of the numbers (forget which one) had an interaction with one of the actors. The actor with the dreads came to the edge of the stage right in front of me and asked me - during one of the numbers while the rest of the cast was singing - if I was enjoying the show. It was loud and I couldn't hear him, so I asked "What?" "Are you enjoying the show??," he again asked. It took me several seconds to think of an answer, and in those seconds I think he got impatient so again he says "Do you like the show, man?" And I responded to him "I dunno." He then abruptly left and went back to singing the song.

That moment took me out of the show completely. Stew has broken the fourth wall, which worked and was perfect for the storytelling. It was fine. But when this actor did, I totally got lost in everything that was going on and had difficulties getting back into it. This single moment scarred my thoughts about the production because it is so strongly what I remember over everything else.

It's been years since I have seen the show, and the biggest impressions from it were not the message, but the incident described above, Kevin Adams' light design, the incredible acting, and the method of storytelling. Also, of course, Stew.

Now, I just finished watching Spike Lee's film via On Demand, and my thoughts have completely changed. It's remarkable to me how a live stage show had less impact than a film of a stage show. I absolutely LOVED the film and LOVED the show this time!

There are several pieces of the story that I had completely missed out on!! Spike Lee somehow managed to focus the explosiveness on stage and allowed the story to zoom in, while still providing the explosive atmosphere.

I honestly do not know what is to blame for not feeling the way I do now about the show and not after seeing it live years ago. Perhaps it was just Spike Lee's genius film capture? Perhaps the stage show had misguided direction? Perhaps the venue didn't allow for the live performance to work? I really don't know the answer, just throwing out the possibilities.

Regardless, my feelings about the show still remain the same. The live show was mediocre. The film is brilliant. The live show didn't work. The film did. Of course this isn't fact, this is just my personal opinion based on my experience and objectivity. I know several people who feel the way I do now about the show after seeing it live. But I also know others who shared my exact feelings after seeing it -- and I mean EXACT.

PASSING STRANGE is such an enigma. Usually my perceptions are very clear to me, but with this show, it's all over the place.

If you have seen the show, and whether you liked it or not, DO see the film and respond with your thoughts!!! I'm very anxious to hear others' responses -- especially if you shared my feelings after seeing the show live.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 2:47pm

Very Interesting, Capn. I detested the show when I saw it live. Thought it should have been done in a coffee shop on the Lower East Side and even than I wouldn't have paid to see it.

Maybe I'll check out this film version, though if you think it's so different. Thanks!

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 2:56pm

Still in the rainy Poconos and can't wait to get back for PASSING STRANGE. Capn's observation seems to be shared by many moviegoers who had seen the Broadway show: "I didn't get it before. Now I do."

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:00pm

Interesting post.

I can't imagine sitting through PASSING STRANGE again, even in Lee's film. Life's just way too short. Maybe on free cable.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:00pm

A lot of times during the show there were so many subtle things going on simultaneously that a lot of things may have been lost in the shuffle. Spike Lee was able to capture a lot of these moments and bring them to the forefront. Not to copy David Frost, but there is a lot to be said for the power of the close-up.

I'm really glad that your opinion of the material has changed after seeing the film.

I'd also like to mention that a personal favorite touch of mine that Spike used for the film was the use of the hand held camera footage during "Identity" and the scratchy, fuzzy film work during "Must Have Been High". Both of those moments added just that extra layer of detail that made the film version so enjoyable.

After seeing the film version last week and considering all of the camera angles used, especially the cameras mounted on the light wall shooting out in the auditorium, I started to wonder how the show would have worked in the round. I know it played in the three-sided theater at the Public, so when moving onto the proscenium at the Belasco maybe something (intimacy?/the angles?) got lost in the translation.
Updated On: 8/28/09 at 03:00 PM

[trevytoe]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:26pm

I didn't get a chance to see the show live, but have had the cast recording since it came out and I absolutely love that. It seems the live version was an extreme hit or miss with most of y'all. I thought the film was incredible and I watched it twice. It was far to superior to other live recordings I have seen and probably because of the film techniques previously said. "Arlington Hill" was the best part of it for me as well the Desi scenes in Berlin.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:27pm

I didn't get a chance to see the show but from what I gather from most the opinion seems to be pretty close to yours. Bravo, Spike Lee.

[froggy2]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:35pm

I don't know, I would consider myself pretty slow on the uptake most of the time, but I didn't really have any problems following the plot the show. It was more that there was SO much to digest, it was only afterward, listening to the cast recording repeatedly, that I could truly digest the brilliance of the piece.

Don't get me wrong, I did LOVE the film, but to me there is no replacement for experiencing something like that live.

Either way, I'm glad that you gave the show another chance, and that you enjoyed the material in movie form!

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:37pm

I won't quit until Roscoe wears a "Proud Scaryotype" t-shirt with pride!

[trevytoe]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:37pm

Very true Froggy, I was completely blown away with it on tv, so I can not imagine if I had gotten to experience it live.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 3:47pm

Blaxx, nothing can dim the unending genius of STEW and of PASSING STRANGE!! I not only wear my SCARYOTYPE shirt with pride, I live in my SCARYOTYPE shirt 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

HAIL STEW!

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 4:27pm

I wonder if we have any of the Scaryotype shirts left to send to roscoe!

[jansal]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 5:22pm

I'm glad everyone is enjoying PS the 2nd time time around. But All Spike Lee did was put some sweet camera angles on it. It's still Stew and everyone else's show. Spike Lee did a good job, but it's also because he had a lot to work with. The movie was fantastic, but I was pretty annoyed when I heard people after the movie saying how amazing Spike Lee was...it's his movie, but not his piece.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 6:17pm

jansal -- I strongly disagree. Strongly. That's like saying that PASSING STRANGE is Stew & Heidi's show (the writers) and not Annie Dorsen (the director). That's like saying that SHINDLER'S LIST is Steven Zaillian's film and not Steven Spielberg's. The director has a LOT of creative responsibility in taking the writer's work and putting it on film/stage/tv.

In cases where a stage show is filmed, the film director usually collaborates with the stage director (and/or production stage manager) in decisions. Spike Lee has done something with PASSING STRANGE I have never seen done with any previously recorded stage productions -- and that's the use of techniques to alter the image (the fuzzy moments, etc. referenced previously in this thread). But those editing tricks are not the reason why I think the film was successful. I think Spike Lee's direction was successful because of the choice of camera shots. He allowed the viewer to focus on specific things during the show by forcing them to only see whatever he chose to shoot/zoom in on...rather than seeing it live in the audience and choosing for yourself what to focus on.

In my opinion, having Spike Lee choose the focus allowed me to understand the show much better. When I saw it live, there were too many distractions to truly grasp the story as detailed as I did when I saw the film.

This is the first time I have felt this way about a show that was recorded. I have seen both the stage-on-film and live stage productions of PETER PAN (with Cathy Rigby), COMPANY (with Raul Esparza), and RENT. In all three of those instances, LIVE was better than FILM. For PASSING STRANGE, it was the opposite.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 7:06pm

Capnhook, when I said 'Stew and Heidi,' I did not mean to exclude the directors and the producers. And the rest of your post is just putting words into my mouth. I'm talking about one piece, and that's Passing Strange-not Schindler's List or anything else. All I'm saying is that many people who are JUST seeing the movie seem to think that the whole piece belongs to Spike Lee, and it doesn't. Passing Strange is a beautiful art piece alone. Spike Lee recognized this, and thank God for that, because it's now preserved on film. In my opinion, he put beautiful flourishes on something that was already wonderful. Passing Strange the musical and Passing Strange the movie are different, for that reason. I'm not saying I'm not grateful for Spike Lee-I think he did an amazing job with the filming. But regardless, it's still not HIS piece. Stew and Heidi wrote it, Annie directed it, and everything else grew out of the collaboration of a couple of incredibly diverse actors. All of them are the CREATORS. They're the ones they deserve the most credit, in my opinion (emphasis on 'MY OPINION') :). Spike Lee came along later-he did not CREATE Passing Strange.

Updated On: 8/28/09 at 07:06 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 7:24pm

I'm excited to see this. Do the design elements transfer well to film? Like the lighting and everything? Also, I can't figure out if i should see it at the IFC center in NYC or just get it on demand?

[Kad]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 9:57pm

I didn't get to see the show on Broadway, but there were many moments when I was watching the film that I found myself thinking, "I wonder if I would've caught that detail if I was in the theatre." One point specifically was during Mom's exit at the end of "Cue Music".

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:15pm

It's a really wonderful film that's both true to the source material and original in its own right.

I wish they all weren't so sweaty.

I wish that it was a mainstream release, because I do believe that Coleman Domingo's performance is one of the best supporting ones I've seen all year.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:50pm

Yankeefan: re: Coleman Domingo -- agreed!

And regarding the sweat, I don't blame them! All those stage lights and neon lights and fluorescents must have been HOT! Especially to be directly in front of that light wall!

[MrBundles]

Posted: 8/28/09 at 10:57pm

I saw one of the filmed performances....and in person, I didn't like the show. at all.....but I like it on film.

Edit: Berlin is "swallowed if harmful?"

Updated On: 8/28/09 at 10:57 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/29/09 at 12:19am

I'm surprised that, out of all the supporting performances in that show, De'Adre Aziza was the one nominated for a Tony. I thought all the performances were wonderful, but that Coleman Domingo and Eisa Davis were more worthy of a nomination.

Posted: 8/31/09 at 6:27pm

You are thinking of Chad Goodridge -- who no longer has dreads.

Posted: 8/31/09 at 6:29pm

See it at IFC --- I saw it at Directors' Guild and watched the trailer on-demand.....GO TO IFC.....

BTW -- The movie has been extended at least through labor day.

[James2]

Posted: 9/6/09 at 6:12pm

Did anyone catch the person who sings "Play On" during the credits. I think it's Eisa Davis, but it slipped through my fingers when I say the movie again yesterday.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 9/6/09 at 6:37pm

You're right, it's Eisa Davis.