Disjointedly strange: A Times.... Review by a Broadway baby.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 10:04pm

Tonight, I attended a performance of "The Times They Are A Changin." At first, when I saw the circus props and setting, the clowns and the abusive father, and sweet Michael Arden playing the main character Coyote, I thought, "Oh God, Michael Arden will be the saving grace of this show."
Not true.
Exactly.
As the show progressed, things got stranger, darker, and more different.Things got disjointed, and lost. A lot of it I was just sitting there, watching, sometimes in awe, and sometimes in disgust. A lot of the numbers were poignant, and I truly felt for the characters, most of the time, most being the operative word here.
I really don't think this show should be bashed in the way it was. I could see why it was not critic-pleasing, becuase it CERTAINTLY was not your average, typical musical.
The actors I thought, were very good. I loved Michael Arden (he's such a cutie) and Lisa Breschia, who played a runaway at this crazy, weird circus, and eventually,through many songs and NO DIALOGUE, AT ALL, they fall in love, which I thought was adorable, and sweet. This was truly my first jukebox musical, and I kind of expected what I got: 3/4 crazy, and about 1/4 really good stuff.
If you go to see this show, make sure you know what you're in for. Don't just listen to all of the critics, there is something you can find that you like among the clowns, circuses,really nice music, and characters you become connected and disconnected to.
I don't know if you would say there was "bang for your buck", but there is one night of theatre you won't forget. I don't know if it truly deserves to be on Broadway, but oh, well. It happens.
Edited for grammar. And spelling.

Updated On: 11/3/06 at 10:04 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 10:10pm

Michael Arden cerainly is awesome

[Phantom2]

Posted: 11/2/06 at 10:12pm

So is his standy, Jason Wooten.

Posted: 11/2/06 at 10:39pm

let's do one more check for grammar and this time, with another quick look into the Playbill...

it's Lisa Brescia, glad she made a lasting impression on ya!
Updated On: 11/2/06 at 10:39 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 1:17am

As much as the crtics didn't get it.
You should see this show cause it takes a chance to bring something different to Broadway.
And you can say
I saw Michael Arden way back when.
This show is a trip.
I hope it gets a recording, Arden singing Mr. Tambourine Man is just Perfection.
Updated On: 11/3/06 at 01:17 AM

Posted: 11/3/06 at 2:32am

I just saw it this evening, and well... I dont see it shacking up at the Atkinson for a long time. Unfortunate, and fortunate at the same time. I dont like to see actors out of work, and Twyla is one of the great modern choreographers of our time, but this show... wow. It is certianly different, and I applaud Ms. Tharp on taking a risk when the majority of shows (And i know there is def some good stuff) on bway are revivals (les mis, acl) or disney. The story is very, very loose, and there are some great visuals, such as Ahrabs (Thom Sesma) spoiler! death scene with the smooth lights and choreography is simply breathtaking, but the majority of the time, i was very very dissapointed. Michael Arden, is quite simply, fantastic with what he had to work with, it is my prediction that he will be a big deal (even bigger than now) someday. It is not Twylas strong suit when staging the non-dancing numbers, they were quite dissapointing. Amen to the comment about Arden singing Tamborine man, it was beautiful and mystifying. But overall, and im sorry Twyla and the rest of the cast, it was just in a word... wack.

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 3:51pm

It was indeed, whack.
And Lisa Brescia...sorry..I LOVED.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 3:59pm

Michael Arden is amazing. And not being a Dylan fan, it was nice to see his songs actually being sung so you could understand the lyrics, which for the most part are genius, I too hope that this gets a cast recording.

For me Sesma sounded like Neil Diamond, I halfway expected him to start singing "America" during the curtian call(which is drawn out and way too long).

[JustABroadwaybaby2]

Posted: 11/3/06 at 4:06pm

ac: Arden kind of looks like T.R. Knight, which I find very cute!
I hope it gets a cast recording too, because Masters of War, Knocking On Heavens Door, Tambourine man (which was practically perfect in every way), and Times... were so good. Too bad the plot was nutso.

Updated On: 11/3/06 at 04:06 PM