Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Not the Least Bit Outdated

I went tonight harboring a nostalgic fantasy that this production would find a way to salvage a little of what made it so special when I first saw it thirty-some years ago. I had seen a local production a few years ago that had little to offer, but hell, I rationalized, one can always hope.

Tonight was the most special night of theater I've experienced in a very long time. The vision of the director, the incredible musical arrangements, the staging, and the performances all meshed together to create something truly spectacular that is as relevant today as it ever was. Maybe more so. This resurrection of Jacques Brel taps into the emotions of trying to live and love in a world gone haywire and it works just fine even given the new parameters of craziness that are beyond anything many of us could have imagined pre-9/11.

I know that I am gushing, but this show has transcended anything I could have hoped for and it was so profoundly moving that I feel compelled to urge everyone to see it. For those of you who have pre-judged it, sight unseen, as a dated work that will only attract people of "a certain age", I encourage you to give it a chance.

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Updated On: 3/12/06 at 11:11 PM

Yay! I am so excited about this! Thanks for your review!

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Jacques brel has always been amazing

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Yep. That's the name. I was too lazy to get up an look in my program, but let's give Eric his due, because he is freakin' amazing.

And please, god, let this be recorded...

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Yeah, and he's cute too!

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i should say not, wow what top notch cast, is this off-bway

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The setting of the Zipper theatre lends itself perfectly to this production which was, in a word, flawless.

Iflit is right: I feel like I struck gold.

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Updated On: 3/13/06 at 12:16 AM

Have tickets for it in a few weeks

My wife saw it originally at The Village Gate . I saw it when it was on Broadway. Good to hear everyone likes it

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Gay Marshall was the only actor with whom I was unfamiliar. She, like the rest of the cast, is fantastic. And yes, she *does* sing a bit in French.

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i agree with Meffie - you can't single out any one performer, because they work so perfectly as a group, but Gay Marshall brought "Sons of" to life in a way I've never experienced before. I was speechless. And had tears streaming down my face.

mrcacou, Gay's French brought 'authenticity' to the ensemble. Her voice and presence and movement were perfect for the role.


I would love a recording of this show. If any of you go, be sure to sign the 'sheet' in the lobby asking for names of people who are interested! This is simply the most powerful and inspired performance of Jacques Brel I have ever seen.

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Can't wait to see this! I saw a revival of it years later with the original cast and it was thrilling! The music, the translated lyrics, the spirit!

Then they did a video in the 1970s that was dreadful--it just came out on DVD last year--DON'T BUY IT!

I'm so excited about seeing this it's like I'm on a carousel--

We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
And now we go around
Again we go around
And now we spin around
We're high above the ground
And down again around
And up again around
So high above the ground
We feel we've got to yell
We're on a carousel
A crazy carousel
We're on a ferris wheel...

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Updated On: 3/13/06 at 02:16 PM

I feel the same way!

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What I wouldn't give to see Gay Marshall and Marcia Gay Harden in a revival of Side Show.

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