Has anyone seen THESE PAPER BULLETS ?

I loved AI so hopefully this will be just as good ?

Thanks for your comments! I'm really looking forward to seeing the show when it comes to NY!

I heard after the show that it was going to the Atlantic Theater Company next.

!!!hopefully then broadway

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I saw These Paper Bullets last night, and I'm sorry, JoseLee, I had quite the opposite reaction. I totally respect your review, and I respect the creators and performers in the show. After all I'm just an audience member that doesn't work in theatre or music, and they're accomplished writers, composers and directors. I, too, loved American Idiot. I thought it was terrific - the first musical in years where I leapt to my feet in applause at the end before anyone else. This show is not in the same league. As stated it's a mod-era adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing with musical numbers performed by a Beatles-like band who are the male leads. The show follows the original to some extent and gives it a cheeky, swinging Brit 60's farce spin. The dialogue is a mixture of Shakespearian lines, Shakespearean lines given a modern, comic twist and original lines. The dialogue ping-pongs back and forth between those styles. At times they sound Shakespearean and at times they sound like mod period Londoners - at times both! I totally realize that is the intentional style of the piece, but I found this approach initially jarring, arch and sometimes difficult to follow... or unneccesary when simple dialogue would have sufficed. There ARE funny, clever scenes and elements of the show, and I enjoyed the performances and the music. But I found the pacing erratic and often slow. Scenes and dialogue often go on way longer than necessary, and some of the humor and bits are forced. The show is almost two and a half hours long with intermission. Shakespeare didn't always stick to his own words: "Brevity is the soul of wit". But with this show that's a good line to follow. But, hey, this is just my 2 cents. That and $4.98'll get you a cup of Starbucks. All said, I'm really glad to have been able to see this show. I hope they still keep polishing it, and I'm glad people are enjoying it.

Updated On: 9/17/15 at 02:35 AM

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I really wanted to see this, but now that I know it's not a musical, I can skip it. Not that I'm opposed to straight plays, but it doesn't sound like this one would be worth the money, for me.

Differences of opinion are fine and expected. And yes I think it helps to know the oriiginal play beforehand. Closest show I can think of which is similar is "One Man, Two Guvnors", another play adaptation with songs, which is also having its Southern California debut concurrently at Southcoast Rep in Orange County.