My thoughts on Road Show....(some spoilers)

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 12:46am

This is not a review, just a bunch of random thoughts.

I saw the matinee today. I did the rush, there was a line of about 20 people. And we all got tickets. So the rush is pretty great. The seats are GREAT, I had row K towards the end of the row, but had a perfect full view of the stage. I would definitely recommend rushing this show.


I really enjoyed the show. I am very familiar with the Bounce score, but never saw that production. I really LOVE the new opening song based on the Bounce title song. I assume the new opening is called "Waste." I love the idea of having all the people from their past confront them. Most of the Bounce score is still intact, with a few songs cut and a lot of lyrical and slight musical revision. They revised YOU quite a bit, and I think I prefer it as it was in Bounce It was a brilliant choice to have THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED sung by Addy and Hollis. It was a beautiful moment. And my favorite GET OUT OF MY LIFE is still there, with slightly different and more intense lyrics. Unfortunately they cut my favorite part of the BOCA RATON sequence, the ending of it. It sounds brilliant on the Bounce recording.

I thought the performances all around the board were fantastic. Michael and Alex had a great love-hate chemistry. And I loved seeing Michael in this kind of role. He is a brilliant actor. I do agree it is hard to care for the two brothers. They almost get you on Addy's side, and let you feel something for him. But they just about ruin that with how he treats Hollis towards the end.

I loved the set and the use of it. The direction is typical Doyle, but it worked perfect for the piece. Covering the stage in money was a genius idea. The costumes were great, and I do not understand why some are having such a problem with the Boca visors, they are worn for about 10 minutes.

I really do love this score, I agree it is reminiscent of Assassins and even Merrily. But it does have a style of its own and it's just another wonderful Sondheim piece. The orchestra sounds pretty good, Tunick reduced his orchestrations a bit; but they're still wonderful. The book does drag at some points, and I kept waiting for a song to come pick up the scene.

*Spoiler* one of the more unexpectedly funny moments is when Hollis sings to Addy in the opening "Remember me, I'm the one that you f*cked." It comes out of no where, but it's perfect.

I do hope the critics like the show, and I wish it could transfer. A new Sondheim show on Broadway is never a bad thing. And I would think the score is strong enough to win Sondheim a 9th Tony. I do not think the show is for everyone, and as I expected my parents didn't like it. But as a Broadway or Sondheim fan definitely do not miss this, and try the rush before it opens!










Updated On: 11/9/08 at 12:46 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 12:17pm

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 11/9/08 at 2:11pm

Thanks for the review/thoughts. I think I'll try to see it this Wednesday.