Posted: 10/15/17 at 9:35pm
I saw PRINCE OF EGYPT this weekend and enjoyed it. Is it what it could and should be? No. Is it brilliant musical theatre? No. It is Storyteller Theatre. But it has a strong story and a strong score. Scott Schwartz's approach works for what it is considering there is really no set. As discussed here the performers create set pieces with "blocks of stone" and help with action. But they don't resort to the heavy use of actors narrating action that I felt hurt HUNCHBACK when I saw it in La Jolla AIN'T TOO PROUD, the Temptations musical at Berkeley Rep, suffers more from the "and then we did this" first person narration than PRINCE.
You have to take into account that this is a theatre with smaller budget and stage facilities than the larger tryout houses. I live in LA but have been long familiar with TheatreWorks in Silcone Valley. They are a regional theatre which does a fair share of quality productions. And they have long running New York and national theatre ties which are impressive for a small theatre. MEMPHIS was presented there pre La Jolla Playhouse. I saw the first production of SIDESHOW post Broadway there with the understudies for Alice and Emily, and it was pretty good. Stephen Schwartz and Scott Schwartz have done productions there in the past.
I am not familiar with the film so I can't comment on how they handled the story or how the adapted and expanded the score. Some people in the cast are stronger than others, but everyone does well. I was not fond of the set which is a large floating abstract backdrop with projections. I felt the projection imagery was not strong enough and the backdrop was too high above the cast and therefore didn't truly connect with the performers to create a full stage picture. The musical does scream out for a unique and striking physical production, and yes, people like Julie Taymor and other directors who have more of a visual sense might have done something more unusual and impressive with the musical. I liked the dance movement for the ensemble, but the choreography during the actual dance numbers was not great. And I did not like the costumes - in particular for the Egyptians which felt a little Rocky Horror Show science fictiony vs elegant or grand - and was surprised to see they were by Ann Hould-Ward.
Not to denigrate anyone involved but we're really seeing a professionally presented workshop production here. It's an opportunity to put a show on its feet in front of an audience. And I'm very glad and thrilled to be able to see this production under the circumstances. It will be interesting to see where the show goes and how it developed from here.
Updated On: 10/16/17 at 09:35 PM
.jpg?format=auto&width=300)
.png?format=auto&width=365)
