MEMPHIS Reviews

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 9:49am

Post 'em here!

Today is October 19th, marking the official opening night performance for David Bryan and Joe DiPietro's latest theatrical venture, the rock musical Memphis, about a radio DJ who aims to change the color and sound of rock music, playing the Shubert Theatre on 44th.

Reprising their performances from the La Jolla Playhouse and 5th Avenue Theatre runs for Broadway audiences as DJ Huey Calhoun, and his muse, Felicia Farrell, respectively are Chad Kimball and Montego Glover. christopher Ashley directs.

The absolute to all involved.

Best,
- Mike

[dramadude]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 3:10pm

"A bit of "Dreamgirls" and maybe even "Hairspray" can be found in the show's show-biz and race relations roots. But make no mistake, "Memphis" is its own musical..."

-Associated Press, NewsOk.com
'Memphis' exuberantly chronicles the rise of RB

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:22pm

Good lord.

[scaryclowns2232]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:40pm

You just know this quote is going to be hung up outside the theatre:

"The very essence of what a Broadway musical should be"
-Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 4:48pm

Oh goodness. I can't imagine many of the reviews will be this kind. Memphis is easily one of the worst musicals I've seen in the last 5 years. Full of cliche and more than just a little bit of Dreamgirls and Hairspray. The only sentiment I agree with is Glover's wonderful singing.

[LearnToBounce]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 5:53pm

Backstage is Mixed-to-Positive:

"Though its brain may be a bit simple, "Memphis" has its heart and soul in the right place. The new musical features a rock-solid score by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan, dynamic singing, and athletic dancing. On the debit side, Joe DiPietro's book reduces a traumatic period in American cultural and musical history to a bland "Behind the Music" special, and director Christopher Ashley encourages his cast to limn broadly, blunting the impact of several potentially heart-wrenching moments."

http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-broadway/ny-review-memphis-1004023583.story

And The Associated Press (linked above) is a Rave.

Updated On: 10/19/09 at 05:53 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:36pm

Oh, I foresee this getting raves.

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:42pm

you cannot forsee something when things have already happened. That means you are seeing them.

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:45pm

Huh?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:50pm

The NY Times review is up ridiculously early (it's Isherwood), and he didn't like it.

He calls it, "the Michael Bolton of musicals."


NY Times on Memphis Updated On: 10/19/09 at 06:50 PM

[broadwayman17]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:53pm

Variety is Mixed-to-Positive
"A talented cast, stirring vocals, athletic dance numbers and vigorous direction supply crowd-pleasing elements in the lively new musical, "Memphis," as evidenced by the waves of appreciation coming off the audience. But there's also a nagging predictability to this story of a white DJ who brings rockin' rhythm and blues from black Beale Street to the mainstream in 1950s Tennessee. The show is entertaining but synthetic, its telepic plotting restitching familiar threads from "Hairspray" and "Dreamgirls," while covering fictitious ground adjacent to that of recent biopic "Cadillac Records.""

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117941404.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 6:54pm

"Dare I suggest that 'Memphis' is the Michael Bolton of Broadway musicals? I do."

I had to stop reading the review doubling over in pain from uncontrolled laughter. Okay, back to reading it.

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:00pm

I'd call Isherwood's review Mixed-to-Negative with some great comments about the cast that could easily be used to promote the show. Maybe this isn't the lost cause I thought it was (I expected Isherwood to be less kind).
Updated On: 10/19/09 at 07:00 PM

[LearnToBounce]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:01pm

What the- IT'S ONLY SEVEN! So much for suspense.

Isherwood seems Mixed-to-Negative, though he does say that the show holds your attention.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:02pm

Murray likes it.

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/world/Memphis.html
Updated On: 10/19/09 at 07:02 PM

[Basely Tearful]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:03pm

Wow, I'm tired, I swore I read Brantley's name at the top. My apologies.

[LearnToBounce]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:07pm

I'm not surprised, really, that these reviews are better than the bloodbath expected: I haven't seen one good review on this board, but the reader rating on the Times site (out of 80-some votes) is really high (about 4.5 out of 5). BILLY ELLIOT doesn't have that high a rating.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:08pm

Murray likes something??? Shocking.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:19pm

I just...I can't say I'm not surprised about the mostly mixed-to-positive reviews. It is a big crowd-pleaser though so I can see it running for a while because of that.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:27pm

I just...I can't say I'm not surprised about the mostly mixed-to-positive reviews. It is a big crowd-pleaser though so I can see it running for a while because of that.

I really can't. The word of mouth is awful, and the reviews are more mixed than positive. The grosses if not bad, are not exactly showing a mega hit.

I see this fading into oblivion.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:28pm

Well, tonight is very anti climactic now.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:29pm

I honestly thought it was AWFUL. I'm surprised at some of these reviews.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:30pm

So folks are disappointed that 'Memphis' isn't getting WORSE reviews? Geez. People gripe all the time about jukebox musicals and adaptations of hit movies, and here comes an original NEW musical that seems to be a crowd-pleaser with audiences, and no one's happy for it? Chad Kimball and Montego Glover have worked their butts off with this show for the last few years, not to mention Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, who have been laboring out-of-town in Boston, La Jolla, Seattle and the Bay Area (where I first saw it). I can understand if you don't care for the show, but I guess schadenfreude is alive and well on theater websites.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:35pm

Wayman, I've said many times that this show could only have been BETTER if it were a jukebox musical.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/19/09 at 7:35pm

Chad Kimball and Montego Glover have worked their butts off with this show for the last few years, not to mention Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, who have been laboring out-of-town in Boston, La Jolla, Seattle and the Bay Area (where I first saw it).

So, we gotta cheer for it because these people worked their butts off in this mediocre piece? Your attempt at a shill post made little sense.