RIP Murder Ballad

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/21/13 at 4:38am

I think a small message board tribute is in order for the best new musical to open this season (I haven't seen "Great Comet" or "Here Lies Love" but everything else). If not the best musical, then easily the best score, including the greatest finale since "You Can't Stop the Beat" (and yes, I'm including "Raise You Up" from "Kinky Boots").

Thanks Julia, Juliana, Trip, Caissie, John, Rebecca, Will and Karen. That's entertainment (until it happens to you).

Updated On: 7/21/13 at 04:38 AM

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 1:31am

I was at the closing performance tonight. I don't know that I would go so far as to say its the best musical this year, but it was a fascinating, wonderfully sung, terrifically staged musical, and Julia Jordan is definitely on my "Can't wait to see what they do next list."

Kudos to the across-the-board terrific cast, including understudy Chauntee Irving, who sang the crap out of that great score.

Sorry to see it go, but glad I got to see it, and I know it will have a very robust life in the Regional and Amateur circuits.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 10:41am

Great performance last night! Really nice way to end it's short run

Shout out to the old lady sitting in the aisle of the bleachers crawling around for the entire show and hiding whenever a spot light went on her. I could not stop laughing.

[ZiggyCringe]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 11:31am

Are you talking about that crazy woman wearing a bright green sequined mermaid dress sitting on the pews?

Who ran out just before Will sat down before the finale?

Oooh, yah, shout out to her. She was probably Will's mother. In my head, she was running backstage to congratulate her son.

Or, she was just an old woman who had to pee.

Either way, bless her.

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 11:46am

We saw the show last weekend and my friend was hoping Caissie Levy would fall in her lap. Sadly, we weren't at the tables so we had to settle for her entrances and exits near us.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 12:08pm

"Are you talking about that crazy woman wearing a bright green sequined mermaid dress sitting on the pews? "

No, this woman was sitting in the aisle (closest to the stage) of the bleachers section. She actually rolled around in the aisle the whole show.

My favorite part was when the Narrator was up there towards the beginning of the show and she dove into a row of occupied seats on the floor.

[basketcase]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 1:16pm

Will's mother is dead.

That show did seem to attract all sorts of rude or otherwise crazy audience members, though.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 2:46pm

I will definitely miss seeing Murder Ballad. I saw it four times and it had a different set of people each other. Some thoughts:

This had such an amazing score and it was so much fun the entire way through. I loved the unique seating and the actor's use of the entire space. Not like anything I have ever seen in NY theater. Perhaps because it's so off the path of Times Square and typical tourists destinations, it just couldn't get the audience it was hoping for. The cast and crew were incredibly kind and totally cool.

Casting thoughts:

The cast were all perfectly suited to their roles. The second time I was there Josh Tower played Michael. Since he understudies for Tom as well, he can't be too old or out of shape. John makes more sense for the role because he is older and has this lonely, intellectual vibe. Josh was great in the role but definitely not as convincing as John. He was out two out of the four times I attended. I also saw Jim Newman play Tom. He was so good looking it was distracting at times (blond Hugh Jackman) but his voice was excellent (much higher than Will's) and he played it more romantically, almost sweet. He didn't come off as dark, just lovesick. I enjoyed his performance as well. Lastly, I saw Chauntee' Irving as the Narrator this past weekend. Her voice was incredible, almost too much for that small a venue, and she was fantastic overall. Her take on the role was much more serious and conservative compared to RNJ. Her blouse was opaque and pretty high cut. RNJ played it with much more humor and sexiness. Both great, just different.

I will miss the king of downtown most of all.

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 5:54pm

I bet the residents on 17th Street are all celebrating today they can finally remove their ear plugs!