Gun and Powder at Paper Mill

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/27/24 at 3:41am

APR 4–MAY 5, 2024 Gun & Powder is a new musical inspired by the true story of Mary and Martha Clarke, African-American twin sisters who take extraordinary measures to settle their mother’s sharecropper debt and save her home. In 1893 Texas, the Sisters Clarke—passing as white—embark on a remarkable Wild West adventure that examines race, family, and identity with two electrifying women who transformed from farm girls to outlaws to legends. Featuring book and lyrics by Angelica Chéri (a real-life descendant of Mary and Martha Clarke), music by Ross Baum, and direction by Obie winner Stevie Walker-Webb (Ain’t No Mo’).

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/4/24 at 6:12am

The legend begins. Performances begin tonight.  Ciara Renée and Liisi LaFontaine star.  It’s getting good buzz from the invited dress. 
 

[TarHeelAlan]

Posted: 4/4/24 at 10:17am

Saw this show at its world premiere at Signature Theater in Arlington, VA in 2020, just before covid. Greatly enjoyed it, as did the audience. Highly recommended. (Can't believe it's been over 4 years!) I do seem to recall that the Wash Post critic felt the second act needed work, so perhaps the Paper Mill production will reflect some changes. 

Updated On: 4/4/24 at 10:17 AM

[Voter]

Posted: 4/4/24 at 10:22am

I am seeing it next Friday. Very excited 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 12:36pm

Has anyone seen it yet?  I'm hearing good things

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 6:02pm

I saw it today! I was very excited to see having thought it sounded fascinating in production from several years back. I'll say the audience was on it's feet before the last note had finished being sung so I think it's a good sign. The vocals in particular on this are really incredible the 3 leading ladies and "kinsfolk" being the stand outs. I think the show starts and ends very very strong. There's a chunk at the end of act one and the middle of act 2 that I think could use some work. They just lacks the drive that a bulk of the rest of the show have. 

 

 

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The act 2 bit having a similar problem that I think Kimberly Akimbo has in that it involves a heist and the way it is approached feels a bit out of place in the show. G&P plays the heist for almost comic bit with a set piece that feels like James bond and just doesn't really work IMO. I doubt it's going to change for this run but perhaps in the next iteration it gets tweaked. 

Overall I would say definitely go to be sung to and the emotional core of the show is very strong as well. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 6:54pm

This is from the same producing team that did How To Dance In Ohio which does not give me hope that this will be worth going to Jersey for

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/7/24 at 7:52pm

This sounds way more interesting to me than how to dance, which I hated.  I’m seeing gun powder in two weeks, looking forward to it. 

[Voter]

Posted: 4/13/24 at 6:05pm

I fortunately live in NJ and see a lot of show at Paper Mill. I thought this show was a great surprise. The book needs some slight trimming but this was amazing. I really think this is a a strong musical and very well written (for the most part) and well researched (I do not think this is big enough for Broadway unless it is a 8 month limited run and in a small house). I loved the songs too and I think it fit the time period very well. One of the ushers at PMP thinks they may get a cast recording for this production. For those who do not know, this was a thesis project at NYU.  

 

I know a lot of us do not like out of nowhere gunshots in shows. There were quite a few in this production (Signature VA production only had one according to their website). Look down below for the PMP production when the gunshots occur. One thing about this production is that it was a sound effect, not coming from the gun itself. The gunshot sound was from a sound board. 

 

Act 1

Gun & Powder: During the song. She points the gun up. 

Trigger/Act One Finale: At the end of the song/act. The gun is pointed to a character. 

 

Act 2

Mary’s Nightmare: There are 5 gunshots in this song/sequence. The character is shooting the gun on the right side of the stage. The character is on upstairs floor of the scaffolding set.

Chase Scene: There is a chase scene/song right rafter Mary’s Nightmare (song/scene sequence). I was told by the sound designer there was a gunshot sound but I didn’t notice it/hear it. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/13/24 at 6:15pm

Interesting. I’ve also heard the direction and book are the weakest elements of this musical, but there are some wonderful voices in the cast. Opening night is tomorrow and I’m curious to read some of these reviews. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 4/13/24 at 6:31pm

The voices are absolutely the strongest element. IMO

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 4/13/24 at 11:21pm

Today’s matinee performance (4/13) featured Jisel Soleil Ayon as Mary Clarke instead of Ciara Renée. Apparently it was the first call-out this production (did she perform this evening?) but I thought Jisel tore the house down.

It’s a fantastic show. Some tightening and even restaging could make it better (it felt a bit too spaced out across such a large stage for a show without major dance numbers I felt) but echoing the sentiments that the score is stellar and it’s a really cohesive original musical at large.

Updated On: 4/13/24 at 11:21 PM

[Pro-1686404964]

Posted: 4/14/24 at 1:33pm

The music and singing are breathtaking.Great emotional core.  

Updated On: 4/14/24 at 01:33 PM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/14/24 at 8:28pm

Opening night tonight!  Expecting a lower level NYT critic to review it, and I’m sure it’ll come out in a few days. 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/15/24 at 9:54pm

i think i confused this in my head with the Lonely Few-- wasnt Ciara Renee leading that production in LA llke a few months ago? Now its coming to NY without her?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/15/24 at 9:58pm

PipingHotPiccolo said: "i think i confused this in my head with the Lonely Few-- wasnt Ciara Renee leading that production in LA llke a few months ago? Now its coming to NY without her?"

I believe Taylor Iman Jones replaced her. 

[PridelandsNYC]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:51am

Juan Ramirez from Theatrely loved it. https://www.theatrely.com/post/gun-powder-shoots-straight-review

"Chéri has a gift for theatricality, beautifully realized by Walker-Webb’s staging. What they create — along with the insanely talented assemble — is an often breathtaking musical as big as its ambitions, and as fun-loving as its gun-toting heroines."

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 10:51 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 11:21am

Sounds like Papermill might have another Broadway transfer here.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 12:49pm

ACL2006 said: "Sounds like Papermill might have another Broadway transfer here."

It would die a quick death - take it Off-Broadway instead. 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 2:26pm

It's too big for Off-Broadway. Cast of 25 and a large physical production. It's also completely wild and original, with a great score. I had a blast seeing it at opening. 

It's a NY Times Critic's Pick.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 2:33pm

They should do the Hadestown route and do one more out of town tryout to drum up excitement. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/20/24 at 12:09am

I went tonight and I honestly thought this show was better than most of the stuff that since made it to Broadway (including Papermill’s GATSBY).

The “untold true story/stranger than fiction” genre of musical is really continuing its winning streak here, while also painting a compelling narrative involving the ideas around colorism, “passing”, code switching, and betrayal of one’s identity and roots - although it does sag a little bit in Act II and the end of a romantic subplot is just a bit too hasty after being under baked most of the show.

This is a SINGING cast - with vocal pyrotechnics that really do justice to the gospel & R&B based score.

Ciara Renee and Liisi LaFontaine have a fantastic dynamic as the sisters and Jeanette Bayardelle comes in as their mother who is MOTHERING with her whole vocal instrument. The rest of the cast had their moments of humor and a chance to show out.

This is probably the best thing I’ve seen come out of Paper Mill in quite a long time - so GO!

Also, WHY IS TIFFANY MANN NOT A BIGGER STAR YET?

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 1:12am

Saw it tonight, really enjoyed it.  Ciara Renee was out, it seems like she’s missed a lot of shows, but her understudy  Jisel Soleil Ayon was fab.  It’s a haunting and epic and wild and dramatic and beautiful musical with lots of crazy stuff going on.  The ending needs rewrites, Mary leaving her husband at the end should have been done in a dramatic song, and the mother just pops out of nowhere at the end.  I don’t really care about the men, and I wanted more colors from Martha.  Mary is definitely the more interesting character.  I also really really like the score.  Good for paper mill for producing two great new musicals this season. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 1:55am

ACL2006 said: "Sounds like Papermill might have another Broadway transfer here."

its the same producing team as How To Dance In Ohio this is Broadway bound and already has the money in place, a theater is another question

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 4/29/24 at 8:24am

I hope it does go to Broadway, but it will surely flop.  The theatre was maybe half full?  After Midnight at Paper Mill canceled the last week of performance due to illness, people exchanged their tickets for Beautiful, they had no interest in seeing Gun and Powder, which is a shame.