METRO at the Minskoff 1992

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 3:26pm

If you are not familiar with the Polish import musical, METRO was a quick closing Broadway flop (13 performances) that has been described as A Chorus Line in a subway tunnel.

What I just discovered that is somewhat interesting is there is a proliferation of video footage of the musical on YouTube. It looks professionally filmed so I researched a little further and found a brief mention a production was filmed in 2009. There have been Polish and Russian productions from what I can tell. I also read the cast members protested Frank Rich's pan in the NYT by sending him a heaping of steaks which amused me.

I wanted to inquire if anyone had any experience with this musical, particularly if they have seen it on stage or this filmed performance that is out there. I look forward to checking more of those YT videos out in the future.

Oh look, it also has a website...
Metro The Musical

[once a month]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 3:35pm

A pal saw it and gave me the color Playbill. I've not heard a single good thing about this other than it had a lot of energy.

[otis33]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 3:46pm

I saw it 3 times - mostly because I was a very poor college student and was offered free tickets. I went with a different classmate every time. There were some voices and performances that were outstanding, but most of it was pretty ridiculous. I don't remember much, other than some laser lights and people who spoke very broken English.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 3:48pm

I saw it twice and LOVED it. It was pretty bad...but had some great stuff as well. First, the plot was ridiculous. The score had some great numbers however and some standout performances. The main set was a short erector set that modulated into different parts of the subway.

Most of the Broadway cast are in a professional video in Polish that I believe is still available. It captures the idea of the show, but it was much more electric live.

My favorite part of the show was an AMAZING vocal performance by a girl named Edyta Gorniak. She was a featured player (there were only 4 defined characters) and in the second act she appeared at the top of the structure and sang with lasers flying around her and out of her...it was spine tingling. She became a big star in Poland. Her playbill bio listed her as a beekeeper. From beekeeper to pop star. This clip is from the pro vid...it doesnt capture the electricity she threw off unfortunately:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-nZIDQVwqs

The other standout was the female lead, a waifish Katyrzyna Groniec. Her voice was not as strong as Edyta's, but she was a decent actress and she had the 11 oclock number and knocked it out.

The rest of the cast was good and VERY energetic...always wanting to please. Unfortunately the accents made it quite difficult to understand them.

The show was one of those wonderful messes.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 4:12pm

It was bad, but not as bad as the Shroud of Turin musical.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 4:44pm

Or "Aint Broadway Grand?"

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 5:26pm

I saw it and was very confused about where it took place,
I thought the METRO was in Paris.
I do remember some of the women sang, and one of them threw herself in front of a train, in the show, not life.

[evic]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 6:38pm

I saw it 3 times and remember that there were 3 or 4 showstopping numbers..the score and orchestrations are terrific. No Not Me was done in black light with lots of people flying...Ken Billington did the amazing lighting and was not nominated for a Tony- his work was outstanding as always. It needed a doctor to cut and restage some mumbers...mix of A Chorus Line, Fame.....and Edyta and Gorniak were great...There was also a dancer Violeta- who won the lottery to stay in the country and was in Contact and the movie Center Stage- she is gorgeous and hope she is doing well.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 7:55pm

I thought it was a musical of The Last Metro.

Unfortunately, it was not. All I remember was it was BAD

Updated On: 4/8/10 at 07:55 PM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/8/10 at 8:47pm

I saw it and it was awful -- a show that had absolutely no business being on Broadway.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/10/10 at 7:18pm

Thanks for sharing. I would be interested in seeing the DVD someday and experience its ineptitude.