#1
Posted: 10/25/03 at 11:17am
I went into THE BOY FROM OZ with an open mind, however, within minutes I was lulled into lethargy. Could they have picked a less interesting subject for a musical? Really, what did Peter Allen do? What was really interesting about his life? Instead of concentrating on the conflict of a gay man married to a celebrity woman--where there might have been some emotional "heft", the creators focus on a mish-mash of a "biography" that is as dull as tarnished silver. Everything is glossed over and no character emerges as being really memorable.
The sets are minimal. The costumes are merely "okay". The book is tedious. Peter Allen's music is so-so, but the music that was specifically written for this production is downright horrible--there isn't a decent melody in the score and the lyrics are of the "June, spoon, moon" variety. The choreography is probably the worst I've seen since the Encores! version of NO STRINGS last season: you'd have more imaginative dancing in an aeorbics class.
The cast works hard. Hugh Jackman really works his tail off (and shakes it quite a bit) as Peter Allen. In all probability, he's more appealing than the man he is portraying. He sings well but the score requires him to blast many vowel sounds and the effect isn't easy on the ears. I'd really like to hear him sing something by Rodgers and Hammerstein or Irving Berlin. I think classic "show music" would suit his vocal chords better. Stephanie J. Block is quite good as Liza; she has some really touching moments in the second act. Isabel Keating does a fine impersonation of Judy Garland but her big song is a victim of poor amplification and the lyric is unintelligible. I enjoyed Beth Fowler as Peter's mother who brought warmth and dignity to her role, and Jarrod Emick does a fine job but is totally wasted in the underwritten role of Greg (Peter's lover). Actually, the Peter/Greg relationship is the finest aspect of the evening. It seems as though the writing becomes more honest and the show se breathes a little life for a while. Still, the staging of "I Honestly Love You" is flawed and a more imaginative director could have done a more effective job staging that number.
I know many people will flock to the show to see Hugh Jackman live onstage. As I said, he's very good. However, I wish the show he is in was more worthy of his talents--and the talents of the others who share the stage with him.
Save your money on this one.
The sets are minimal. The costumes are merely "okay". The book is tedious. Peter Allen's music is so-so, but the music that was specifically written for this production is downright horrible--there isn't a decent melody in the score and the lyrics are of the "June, spoon, moon" variety. The choreography is probably the worst I've seen since the Encores! version of NO STRINGS last season: you'd have more imaginative dancing in an aeorbics class.
The cast works hard. Hugh Jackman really works his tail off (and shakes it quite a bit) as Peter Allen. In all probability, he's more appealing than the man he is portraying. He sings well but the score requires him to blast many vowel sounds and the effect isn't easy on the ears. I'd really like to hear him sing something by Rodgers and Hammerstein or Irving Berlin. I think classic "show music" would suit his vocal chords better. Stephanie J. Block is quite good as Liza; she has some really touching moments in the second act. Isabel Keating does a fine impersonation of Judy Garland but her big song is a victim of poor amplification and the lyric is unintelligible. I enjoyed Beth Fowler as Peter's mother who brought warmth and dignity to her role, and Jarrod Emick does a fine job but is totally wasted in the underwritten role of Greg (Peter's lover). Actually, the Peter/Greg relationship is the finest aspect of the evening. It seems as though the writing becomes more honest and the show se breathes a little life for a while. Still, the staging of "I Honestly Love You" is flawed and a more imaginative director could have done a more effective job staging that number.
I know many people will flock to the show to see Hugh Jackman live onstage. As I said, he's very good. However, I wish the show he is in was more worthy of his talents--and the talents of the others who share the stage with him.
Save your money on this one.
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
