The good:
-The choreography is like Mormon and Aladdin on acid and we LOVED it. Casey knows how to fill a stage and work the room.
-The supporting cast is just freaking awesome.
-The set is beautiful.
-The concept of the show isn't fresh but it is fun. I think they really need to push suspension of disbelief.
-I like a lot of the anachronisms, but there needs to be defined rules setup for these. I feel like there are so many it is hard to understand the language of the piece. It is a tonal thing really. There are songs that are unintentionally funny because of earlier jokes. There are subtle Shakespeare references that really work. Also either be self-referential or don't be. The show makes jokes about breaking into songs, but then has weird love ballads that seem like jokes.
The bad (well not so bad, it just needs work):
-They need to jettison the two ladies. Sorry! Especially Heidi Blickenstaff, I couldn't tell if it was her acting or the contrived dialogue. At the very least, all her songs need to go. Her first number about being a man feels so out of place. Everything she does feels forced and deliberate. SPOILERISH: She also breaks the theme of play and it is ironic because it solves the whole thing. The other actress is better, but her character is cartoony and unintentionally bipolar. Not complex at all.
-Here's the deal kids, those two don't even need to be there. Their arcs are limited and get in the way of the brothers (the real love story we don't get). Mormon does this very well, I wonder if Casey is try to get away from that? Anyway there is a terrible love song at some point and its very clear these emotional moments need to be tied to the brother relationship. Nobody cares at all for the husband and wife as a couple. They are already in love and that is just boring.
-There aren't really any stakes. The show meanders from production number to production. I feel like this show should be about brothers, not their love interests or fake poverty. I think a lot of tension could come from their rivalry and involvement with Shakespeare. Its so obvious where the love stories are going and it should be. The money for the show and the Jewish producer just don't add up and seem distracting.
-A lot of the ballads need to be made funny and serve actual purposes. I think there is an opportunity here to use a ballad for writing or revealing more about the insecurities of the two brothers. I don't feel like we have any.
-Axe the narrator (who is lovely btw) and start the show where it ends or the climatic cliff hanger. In general the show works too much like a predictable musical.
-Personality. This show needs to stop reminding us of things like Spamalot, Producers, Mormon. There has to be a way to give this show its own voice. Right now it is tonally off and plays like something we've all seen before.
- Theme. Ok, the theme of this show is "Be Yourself." I think the first act ignores this and the second act beats us over the head with it in not so subtle ways. The lead brother sings a song "I hate Shakespeare" fine. Hate is a wasted emotion, the song is funny, but we never explore why someone hates. Hate is fear. Fear comes from being afraid of who you are. As the famous quote goes, it is our light that scares us not the dark. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? .... There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. "
I think there is a nuanced way to better weave what "Be Yourself" means into this story and give it great meaning. The two brothers should struggle with their fears, let them get in the way, recognize and utilize their light and reunite for the ending. This should work great against the oppressive puritan leader and ego-manic Shakespeare. I think incorporating this battle of light/dark into every part of their characters will give the show a heart it is lacking. We just don't love anyone in this show at all. Well I did feel for the Jewish guy, he seemed to be really rooting for everyone pretty inexplicably. None of what I'm suggesting should be heavy handed (like the ballads are).
This show feels like a tryout. I think they really need to work on the structure, tone and theme of this show. I think rewriting and restructuring are really needed. The ballads should all just go away or be transformed into action songs. There are a lot of musical theatre conventions being abused here song-wise.
Updated On: 3/26/15 at 01:17 AM
