Glory Days? Tony nom? — Page 2

I just downloaded the songs....oh....I dont know how to make out of it???

J*

Jay, how would you describe what you heard of the score?

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I listened to it twice already.. It grows on you... very TOS...but more melodic!

I just pm you the demos.. for those who want pm me... I will forward you the link..

J*

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Updated On: 3/12/08 at 04:13 PM

I completely disagree in every way.
Immature is an interesting word.
These are 18/19 yr old characters.
A problem often found in musicals that deal with young adults, is that the material is way above common vernacular for the characters. It's written by people who understand youth therefore appropriate the material really well. It's all about everything we deal with growing up. We graduate high school and expect things to be somewhat the same, but things change as we are thrust into our adult lives. But we're "supposed" to have it all figured out.. This show deals with so much metaphor concerning young adulthood. Read Peter Marks' review for more insight.

Updated On: 3/12/08 at 04:17 PM

BluRoses, did you actually see the show?

I heard no metaphor, just clunky, VERY obvious dialog. "Oh dude, we've all changed!" "Yeah dude, it sucks that we have to grow up!" "Man, why can't it always be like high school?" "How many times have you gotten laid, dude?"

I couldn't even figure out what the guys' problem was. The whole dramatic tension seemed to be...they graduated high school and....um....it was more fun then....or something...I think the authors utterly failed to relate to any more universal truths.

Here is apart of the review from the Washington City Paper, with which I agree:

The uptempo numbers feel interchangeably, generically angular, and Blaemire hasn’t done any more musically to establish a sense of individuality than Gardiner has with his book. And the upshot—the dawning awareness that we change, and that the pressurized, hermetic friendships of high school don’t always survive the wider world—won’t feel much like 11 o’clock number material to anyone old enough to have been to a high-school reunion.

So give Blaemire and Gardiner credit—for ambition, and for an ingratiating ballad or two, and for capturing the intense narcissism of late teenagerdom. But unless your idea of catharsis is watching four middle-class white boys learn that people keep growing after “Pomp and Circumstance” plays, don’t give ’em your credit card.

Yes, twice.
I can't even really respond your post. It's a simple story..in real time. It's casual, but specific. Having an opinion about a show and what it does or doesn't do for you makes room for a conversation..but so many ppl on these boards, state their POV like it's the end all and be all.
Your second 2 paragraphs don't even make sense.
Therefore, this can't really be an intelligent discussion.

Updated On: 3/12/08 at 04:47 PM

OK, I'll try to be less harsh.

In my very very humble opinion, this is one of the worst-written shows I have ever seen.

I just think I'm a little angry because it sounded like something up my alley and I paid $60 apiece for two tix to treat a friend for his birthday, and the thing was nowhere near Signature's normal standards.

And if this somehow has to do with the fact that I am 47 years old and not 20, then (a) that doesn't say much for the writing at all, and (b) they are going to have a hell of a time with Broadway auudiences.

You can certainly SHOW the angst and confusion of young people (or ANY people) through character development and dialog (e.g., Spring Awakening). However, that's just it...the author needs to be a good (i.e., mature) enough writer to SHOW change or confusion or tension. In my opinion, in this show they just TOLD us outright over and over again from the outset that they had changed, they felt different now, etc. , but there was nothing in the writing that made me SEE that at all, or the reasons for it, or why it was such a problem, or care about it.


Here's another review I agree with.

Updated On: 3/12/08 at 05:50 PM

Well I thought Spring Awakening was trash, but what do i know. Spring Awakening and Glory Days are the new Broadway. Get used to it. Broadway is youthful! It's changing...again. 16 years old are getting equity cards. Thank god there are still young American songwriters creating music for theatre. I hope the show does fantastic!

Oh man, I was THIS close to driving down to VA to see this but my friend with a car wasn't willing to spend the $100+ and eight hours round trip. So yay!

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I suppose I was in the target audience (20-somethings) and even I could not care about the characters and their plight in this show. Sure the plot could have been filled with deep symbolism about transitions in life in general, but sorry, I couldn't get past the predictable book and repetititive score. It was like watching a Dawson's Creek like show on stage. Painful.

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The Signature blog also has some good video of the show.
Signature Speaks blog