"Yeah, i feel like the problem is more than jsut the writing (which is a big problem). Yes the adaptation is weak, but the direction is subpar as well. There are so many moments that are plaed completely wrong. Now usually if something is being played poorly you might think its the actors, but when THAT MANY MOMENTS are misplayed by that many actors then that only leaves you with the director."
In my opinion, they are not misplayed moments. I think the director recognizes the issues with the script and knows what the material is. Instead of TRYING to make moments work and make up for what the script isn't, he plays TO the script. And I agree with that choice. You can't mask the faults with this show in the direction.
And as for the writing, it's not so much just the book and it's not about the songs not being memorable. It's about the entire writing component of the show: book AND music AND lyrics. It's the decisions of where to input songs and where to input lines. It's the decisions of what those songs should be and how to tell the story.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
