Saw this in its last performance at Barringston Stage Company - held off posting negatively about it in another thread, but now that it is going to Broadway and they are asking for real, signicant dollars, FWIW my two cents:
Loved, loved, loved Crystal in the autobiographical "700 Sundays." He brings the same charm and pathos to his fictional alter ego, Buddy Young Jr., though clearly Buddy is much more of a d**k. "700 Sundays," as a show, was masterful, "Mr. Saturday Night" --the musical- not so much.
Did not see the movie (not only starring, but also directed by Crystal)--came to it somewhat fresh-- other than having some familiarity with the Buddy character from 80's SNL and remembering the film took a critical drubbing. The rise, then fall, then modest comeback of a narcissistic Borscht belt comedian (a milieu, I admit, I'm a sucker for) with its attendant toll on family and friends as dramatized here was presented rather obviously-but that is not its biggest sin. There were some good laughs-but too few. The mostly older audience was really responsive to the comedy. Other than losing focus at a few points (which can be fixed), the show's real downfall was the music. Music could have boosted a familiar rise and fall story with the cutting but charming Crystal at its core into the stratosphere. Instead, music was mediocre, bland, unmemorable, mostly repetitive in tempo and narrative content. Way too many lifeless ballads unevenly offset, I think, by one swing-type tune and one barely discernible island-y calypso-lite type melody (sung by Graff). Not one impactful "I want" song but innumerable "I am long-suffering” songs all stemming from Buddy’s mistreatment of the character singing. I did not hear a lot of enthusiasm for the music beyond polite applause. Where I was sitting there was frequently no applause after a song ended. Yikes. The creatives were sitting behind me so hoping they noted same. Couldn’t help think of the advice Sondheim gave Miranda after Miranda shared with Sondheim early drafts of "Hamilton" songs: “Variety, variety, variety, Lin. Don’t let up for a second. Surprise us.” No variety here and no surprises. Not a Broadway class score. Very disappointing.
Also, a recurring theme "if you just stick around things happen" (or something like that- don’t know if this was a line plucked from the movie) was also used to serve as an awkward all-purpose dramatic resolve. I think it was somewhat paralyzing creatively, to wit, it certainly did not provide the eleven o’clock number of one’s dreams.
Paymer also reprises his film role -- and chemistry with Crystal is nice (think Paymer got a few acting nods for the movie). They both have limited musical range. Paymer has no range - -he talk sings. This would be ok with a good score, but meh songs become all the more meh when sung by non-singers. Randy Graff is fine in a thankless long suffering wife role. Was impressed with Alysha Umphress (as Buddy's daughter) she has a real stage presence that helped transcend the neglected/resentful/angry daughter stuff she had to sell- don’t know if she will be in the Broadway run.
The retro Catskill-y flavor of it all, which some on another thread posit will spell success, I think, can only take the show so far- and that will be, based on what I saw, not very. Might be akin to "Fish In The Dark," also a weak (tho non-musical) throwback. Crystal can fill seats and have a strong advance and return investor cash like “Fish” did due to David, but unless the music improves significantly, imho, I see no real long-term potential. Billy (and audience) deserved better.
Updated On: 11/10/21 at 11:09 AM
