Ehhh.... A Review of The Drowsy Chaperone.

I just saw Drowsy. Please, consult this review, and Ben Brantley's (because I agree wholeheartedly with him) if you are looking to see this show.
The show, is a sort of twenties farce, with a man in a chiar, narrating the story, and talking about how much he loves the musical.
He did a whole shpeil (shpeel, however you spell it)about today's theater. He did a terrific job.
In my opinion, he almost saved the show.
Before the plot actually starts, he warns you that the characters are ENTIRELY two-dimensional.
Yes, I understood that part. The execution, however, didn't work out so well.
I didn't like most of the musical numbers. They were, and Ben Brantley puts it, "forgettable." Even at just one hour and forty minutes of showtime, it still felt long. Sutton Foster displays her talents, being just what the role called for (but I love Sutton, so whatever) Everyone did just what they were supposed to. I saw no spark. No fly. No ENERGY.
All the people in the audience (mainly tourists) seemed to be in love with the show.
As I say in the title of this thread...Eh.
I disliked the subplots. The whole show was not very well thought through. I liked The Man in the Chair's character much better. he seemed to stand out.
I say, this whole musical is supposed to be about a guy loving this musical. I cannot see why.
I know some of you guys on this board loved this musical (i have been closely reading the boards) but all I can say is, Eh...
oops, should have added this to Margo's thread. But I wanted this to be fresh, since everyone loved it (Newsday, wsall street journal..etc)

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Updated On: 5/5/06 at 10:28 PM

I mostly agree with you! Other than Beth Leavel being hilarious and Sutton dancing her little heart out, the show in general fell pretty flat for me. Although I will admit that I teared up a bit at the end when The Man in the Chair's beloved cast invites him into the show! That was beautiful and really hits home with those of us to whom musical theater is so important. Overall, I agree with your "Eh" sentiment!

i found this show very dissappointing.

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Updated On: 5/6/06 at 01:40 AM

Yes, I loved the show. No, it was not 'great' theater - - but, it was just plain FUN. I prefer to remember the LOL moments than to dwell on the less than stellar moments. So, for me it was fun and remains a fond memory.

ehhh....?

It's all down to personal taste and quite clearly with this show which has divided opinion - as opposed to Lestat and the like which has pretty much been universally panned.

I felt the same way as some do about Drowsy as many did about the much praised Avenue Q, in which the whole tone of the musical got very repetitive very quickly, and I must admit it bored me come the second half, although admittedly is has more memorable songs than Drowsy on the whole.