Folkyboy's Review of LoveMusik

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 7:21am

I will agree with whoever said that LoveMusik feels a bit like two shows mashed together and separated by an intermission. Honestly, the only through-line between the two is the characters and, sometimes, even they don’t seem themselves.

This beautiful piece of theatre definitely has its flaws. However, the acting is superb throughout. The red and black theme seems to burst on stage as the love story unfolds before us. You seriously cannot top Donna Murphy’s shattering vocals in this one. The fact that she rarely comes to work is going to hinder this show from ever taking off, in my opinion. (Not discrediting Ann Morrison from her understudy abilities but c’mon! It’s Donna Murphy!) You wonder how she can take on such a mounting role and hold all of our hearts in the palm of her hand.

I’ll admit that Michael Cerveris has a tendency to play Michael Cerveris in most of his performances, but here I think it helps us connect with the composer Kurt Weill. There’s moments where his shy meek self sort of shine in bursts of passionate anger, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was going to bake them in a meat pie but I think I was the only one feeling that. He doesn’t present himself much like Donna’s character (Lotte Lenya) does, but I think this is intentional. His version of “That’s Him” definitely brings the second act back to the beauty that was the first.

I’m not saying that as a whole this piece doesn’t thrive. But I can definitely see why some people left at the intermission. It’s really arty and the staging itself just doesn’t lend to a typical tourist crowd. The conscious decision to place the orchestra front a center (and shine spotlights on players during the overture & entr’acte) does weigh heavily on those who wish to talk through the instrumental parts.

The costumes for this show are just as beautiful as the staging itself. Tiny jewels glimmer under piercing lighting and seem to enhance the deep crimson red stage. There’s definitely a regal-ness here that is not typical of a standard light-hearted fair.

I definitely wish now to see it again as I realize seeing it during the previews allows a LOT to be altered come Opening Night. Considering it will NOT be eligible for the Tony Award nominations of the 2006-2007 Season makes me wonder how much of a life it will have come the waning summer months. This really is a beautifully acted love story, but my dubious feelings about Act II hinder my overall grasping of the piece. What appeared to be minimalist and gorgeous for Act I looks cheap and lame in Act II. (And oddly enough STILL warrants a recommendation to see it.) Not everyone’s cup of tea, sure. But so utterly moving that it brought me to tears at points.

Hal Prince is at it again!

MUSICAL NUMBERS:

ACT I – EUROPE
Speak Low
Nana’s Lied
Kiddush
Divine Land
Klops Lied
Berlin Im Licht
Wooden Wedding
Tango Ballad
Alabama Song
Girl of the Moment
Die Moritat
Shickelgruber
Come to Paris
I Don’t Love You
Kust
Wouldn’t You Like to Be on Broadway
Alabama Song, Reprise

ACT II – AMERICA
How Can You Tell an American
Very, Very, Very
It’s Never Too Late to Mendelssohn
Surabaya Johnny
Youkali
Buddy on the Night Shift
That’s Him
God Bless Rockefeller
I Don’t Love You, Reprise
The Illusion Wedding Show
It Was Never You
Bird of Passage
September Song

Runtime: 2 hours 50 minutes (with 1 15 minute intermission)

[bschneid76]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:30am

I'm very interested in seeing this production. Hopefully it will last a while, I don't think when I am in NYC next my group will be interested in it.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:34am

It won't be eligible for this year's Tonys?
Since when?

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:37am

It opens May 3. It will definitely be eligible.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:38am

oh my bad! i thought for some reason the cut-off date was May 1st.

i stand corrected! i'd definitely choose this over that pink show for the 4th slot then

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:08am

It won't be eligible because it is terrible dreck that is reminiscent of your best friend's high school production you are obligated to see. From the awful set, to the embarassing lighting, to the weak staging and terrible book, this screams: disaster.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:10am

Somebody liked it!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 10:53am

I'll probably post a detailed review of this horror show tomorrow.

[lucydee]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:41am

Thanks for your review. I am going to see LoveMusik on May 4th so hopefully by then the show will only get better.

[dfwtheatreguy]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 11:50am

I cannot wait to see this show, but looking at the musical numbers I am wondering where "Pirate Jenny" or "Saga of Jenny" are? No worries, just thought a Weill show should feature these.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:05pm

I'll also post my mini thoughts from last night:

Donna Murphy is a genius, and while I don't think she can beat Christine, I think she is Tony worthy in any other year.

The show is TOO long! I've already heard that they are cutting a lot and that it will be altered on Tuesday, but I can think of 2-3 scenes that can go, and the black outs after every scene and the waiting needs to be trimmed and fixed.

The show can't decide whether it wants to be a revue or a book musical, and falls somewhere in the middle. Many scenes/songs can be cut because it IS a book musical, so a few songs/scenes just aren't necessary.

I guess my final reaction was that it was very artistic and "good" or "eh" at the time, but EXTREMELY boring in many parts, and hopefully it can be fixed significantly in previews!

If I hear its changed a lot, I will go back.. I just don't know if I could sit through it again in its current form.
Updated On: 4/15/07 at 12:05 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:13pm

According to an ATC poster, they are planning to cut the show by 15 minutes for Tuesday night's performance.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:15pm

Good. I trust Hal Prince.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:18pm

munk, I trust Hal Prince, but it was evident from last night's performance that he is to blame for the current speed and transitions in the show, so I'm hoping he knows it needs to be fixed!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 2:01pm

They have got to include "Pirate Jenny" in there somehow, please do not deprive Donna Murphy from stopping the show nightly with that number.
I read on ATC that she stopped the show with "Surabaya Johnny" the other night, what reaction did the audience have to this number when you saw it folkyboy?

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 2:04pm

I saw "LoveMusik" last night, and while, I would love to see Donna perform "Pirate Jenny," she already stops the show with "Surabaya Johnny" and "September Song."

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 3:05pm

Her "Surabya Johnny" is brilliant, and elicited the biggest audience response when I saw it last night.

Oddly, I don't think she has enough to sing.

Updated On: 4/15/07 at 03:05 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 3:09pm

How do the songs play into the telling of the story?

Are they used to advance the plot (MAMMA MIA esque) or are they just sort of thrown in (JERSEY BOYS)?

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 3:14pm

Both, Munk.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 3:38pm

I agree wholeheartedly MasterLcZ! Every scene that didn't have Donna in it felt slightly empty. She IS the star of the show! Also, iluvtheatertrash, was there nothing redeming about this production? While there were some faults, I did appreciate the costumes, music, set and performers especially.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 4:28pm

right, her version of Surabaya Johnny was wildly good!

and i can't believe someone would say that this show had no redeaming qualities. that's so crazy for me!

i hope they honestly cut Buddy On the Night Shift and almost everything that insues on that scene. I'll agree the black outs are crazy but with the minimalist sets, I don't see how else they could've changed the scenes. They need to write something better as to how that's done and, honestly, I don't think that that'll happen.

I suspect what'll happen is the cast recording will come out for this and people are going to gag at how amazing it is. Right now, there is zero merch for it so it definitely needs at least THAT

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 6:06pm

What I saw this afternoon was most definitely a work in progress, and it showed enough promise that I've decided to withhold critiquing it until I see the finished product in three weeks. For now, I'll simply say that the story that Hal Prince and Alfred Uhry want to tell is all there; what they have to do now is get rid of the extraneous material that surrounds it.

[I will add, however, that Cerveris and Murphy are both wonderful, and they understand the characters they are playing. I just wish they would turn the damn microphones down.]

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:26pm

I think the closest example is JERSEY BOYS. Donna Murphy does a great SURABAYA JOHNNY, but the moment I felt she most connected with Lenya's spirit was during SEPTEMBER SONG.

I hope they fix the end of IT WAS NEVER YOU. It's way too awkward to be emotional. (Shouldn't the final spot come on AFTER he drops the briefcase?)

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:27pm

Murphy's "September Song" is indeed wonderful. I also love that they gave "God Bless Rockefeller" to Brecht and his women.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/15/07 at 8:31pm

I love that they included the song! Especially since, in its original German context, it was the nail in HAPPY END's coffin.