Jason Robert Brown's 13 - Reviews (in LA) — Page 2

Bloomberg's review has been updated! The title has been changed from "Musical `13,' Has Energy, Not Enough Sex" to "Musical `13' Has Verve, Lacks Edge." I can't find the Google cache of the old article, though, and I can't remember it well enough to see if anything else was changed.

My last time seeing it is tonight, unless it gets another run.

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RAVE review (and Critic's Pick) in Backstage (I've highlighted what I think are a few very interesting sentences, in light of what others have been saying here):

13 (PICK)
January 10, 2007
By Les Spindle

Composer-lyricist Jason Robert Brown and librettist Dan Elish have created a smashing new musical about the difficult rite of passage from childhood innocence to teenage panic. Thirteen proves to be a lucky number indeed in this sassy and melodic show that will be as enjoyable for parents as for the youngsters who in previous generations dragged their parents to see Grease and Bye Bye Birdie.

Among the new breed of visionary musical-theatre songwriters poised to follow in Sondheim’s footsteps, Brown is known for exploring themes ranging from tragic (Parade) to heart-rending (The Last Five Years). It’s surprising, then, when 13 starts out like first-rate fluff, riding high on the power of gifted performers, a killer score, electric staging, dynamite choreography, and the material’s infectious good humor. Slowly but surely, the emotions behind the revelry begin to feel genuine, the stakes for the youthful characters rise, and the show packs a much stronger emotional punch than we initially expect.


Evan (Ricky Ashley), an insecure Jewish boy with a low-key charisma—part lovable schlemiel, part mensch—is having a difficult time adjusting to life at Dan Quayle Jr. High in the sleepy burg of Appleton, Ind. Having just arrived with his mother from New York following the breakup of his parents’ marriage, he is suffering from culture shock: His mother had to locate a rabbi online for Evan’s impending bar mitzvah, for heaven’s sake. He desperately needs to feel that he belongs, and in reaching out to make friends, he manipulates a situation that backfires; his efforts at playing Cupid circle back around to bite him. Will the myriad puppy-love attractions come to fruition, and will our hapless hero find the acceptance he so desperately craves.

Director Todd Graff and choreographer Michele Lynch keep the energy buoyant in a smoothly integrated mix of humorous and poignant scenes and exhilarating, inventive dance numbers. The triple-threat ensemble members likewise meld spectacularly. In the focal role, the marvelously engaging Ashley sings with passionate conviction and anchors the comic complications. As the resilient crippled boy with a muscular disease, the irresistible Tyler Mann displays a mastery of comic timing. Lending exemplary support are Emma Degerstedt as the sexy but unsophisticated head cheerleader, J.D. Phillips as the blowhard jock out to win her heart, Caitlin Baunoch as a jealous troublemaker, and Sara Niemietz as a lonely girl ostracized from the campus cliques.

Artful and fluid design elements add to the nonstop fun: David Gallo’s cartoon-flavored sets, Candice Cain’s astutely conceived costumes, and Mike Baldassari’s finely textured lighting. Music director David O and his crackerjack six-member combo make the most of the rousing score. This is a Brown of a deliciously different color, and his exuberant new tuner starts the new theatre year off with a resounding bang.

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/la/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003531295

You went back three days to dig up a post about reviews of a musical you haven't even seen just so you could be negative?

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bump

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i thought it was great. i really didn't think it was bubble gum at all. it reminded me a lot of falsetto's. i hope it has a life other than LA so people can see it. i also loved what JRB wrote in the program. he basically said he didn't ever want to write a musical again and then he wrote the opening number and couldn't stop. i love his music and i loved this show.

I saw it last night. I didn't think it was all that great - very much like an after-school special/Saved By the Bell combo. BUT - I am not the target audience for the show, as I realized mid-way through the first number. The young members in the audience, which comprised a large part of the house, ate it up and the show received a standing ovation. I don't think it is a very well written piece, but it does have tremendous commercial value, perhaps as a tour. And it will be huge in the Jr. High School Drama Clubs when it becomes available for amateur production - a perfect vehicle for them.

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OMG 13 UPDATES!!! It seems like forever.

A really lame interview (interviewer's fault!) with Charlie Rosen from the band:
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2007/01/29/entertainment/entertainment03.txt

Article from Backstage:
http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/features/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003537940
Ricky: "I don't want to go badmouthing High School Musical..."
:)

Review from Palisadian Post - Positive!
http://www.palisadespost.com/content/index.cfm?Story_ID=2583

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Thankfully, the new musical comedy '13,' about growing up and figuring out who you are, is not painful to watch, even if it does stir a few memories. It's actually one of the most entertaining shows I've seen in a long time, largely because of the inventive staging and talented cast of teenagers, who deliver an energetic and polished performance from start to finish.
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Aaaand from JRB's Feb Newsletter:
The point is, I know I haven't written you in a long time. Things have been a little crazy out here in Los Angeles. "13," my new musical, opened on January 7 to some wonderful reviews, and the show's been selling out. A lot of folks have been writing and asking when the CD is coming out, and I hope to have some information about all of that by the end of the run. Unless, as always, someone wants to donate seventy-five thousand dollars to the cause now, in which case, we'll get right on it.

I have five thousand in my savings account. If it sells well, do I get a return on my investment?

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I care...but not enough to invest 75K.

When a cd comes out, I'll buy it....I loved the song about friendship and several others.

I saw it on 1/20. I LOVE "The Last 5 Years" and for $20, I thought this would at the very least be entertaining.
Never have I regreted seeing a show more. I went with my teenage bro and we both found it unfunny, unhummable, and flat-out offensive in its lack of topicality (meaning, who cares about middle-class homogenous middle-schoolers in such a socially diverse place as L.A.?) It's great that it's having such a successful run, and most of the audience really seemed to enjoy it, but I found absolutely nothing to like.

On this board??? Have you seen this board??

Ricky should get his own screenname so you don't have to clarify. Just saying. :)

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Lindsay: Well, I was just trying to be funny, but to be clear: I was referring to this entire board (not just this thread), and if you think TheatreDiva90016 is the only one who ever has not-nice-things to say around here, then you haven't read many threads. :-P

Also, it was a poster named "thenewmoon" who most recently said something negative about the show, not TheatreDiva...are you're implying they're the same person?

For what it's worth, although I haven't seen the show, the reviews I've read (including the extremely positive Backstage West "Critic's Pick" I posted in this thread) have been mostly of the good variety. However, that doesn't preclude other people from having their own opinions, including negative ones. Not everyone is going to like every show, you know?