THE STORY OF MY LIFE Reviews

Positive from the AP:

"We are in eulogy territory, a world of remembrance for "The Story of My Life," a heartfelt little musical that has the courage of its sweet-tempered, low-key convictions.

These days, that's a novelty.

In a Broadway world of big musicals determined to sell themselves, this gentle new show celebrates softly but with an emotional pull that slowly wins you over. Whether that's enough to bring in theatergoers used to more immediate, insistent razzle-dazzle remains to be seen."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/artandlife/1404ap_theater_review_story_of_my_life.html

Can we put that review on the other STORY REVIEWS thread, where there are already 41 posts?

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Oy.

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Can we put that review on the other STORY REVIEWS thread, where there are already 41 posts?

From which none are reviews?

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Oo! Link us.

=)

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Here, PiraguaGuy.

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=918550

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Variety is NEGATIVE:

"If the description "an original story about friendship, success and the choices we make at the turning points in our lives" sounds generic, it is. "The Story of My Life" is a singing Hallmark card. The show hijacks Bobby from "Company" and folds him into a labor-of-creativity scenario a la "Sunday in the Park With George," then ****foots coyly around its burning question of unrequited, undeclared love. This flavorless new musical is not exactly terrible, but it's not terribly interesting, either, which makes you wonder why its producers thought it belonged on Broadway. Whatever the reason, it's unlikely to be staying long."

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939716.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

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AM New York gives the show 2 STARS OUT OF 4:

"You’ve really got to admire the chutzpah of the producers of “The Story of My Life” for putting on a show with no real audience appeal of any kind. In spite of its honest sincerity and somewhat imaginative storytelling, it’s just way too small to be on Broadway.

This intimate two-actor musical might be described as a poor man’s version of Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical “Sunday in the Park with George,” treading on the same white-on-white set design and themes of artist’s block and the creative process. Even some of its musical refrains sound as if they were unconsciously lifted from “Sunday.”"

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/stage/blog/2009/02/theater_review_of_the_story_of.html

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Wow, David Rooney really didn't like it. The review actually had some funny moments, including, the sentence that said something to the effect of "no one save for Dolly Parton should be forced to sing a song about a butterfly." Genius.

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NY1 [with video] is VERY POSITIVE:

"Bartram's lovely songs resonate on many levels, while Richard Maltby Jr. adds further dimension with his sharply-etched direction.

Will Chase as Thomas and Malcolm Gets as Alvin are exceptionally talented. So perfectly matched in ways both subtle and large, they deliver splendidly calibrated performances that are simply flawless.

"The Story Of My Life" is about as lean as a musical can get. Broadway-goers expecting more bang for their buck may be disappointed, but I found it artistically consummate."

http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/theater_reviews/94270/ny1-theater-review---story-of-my-life-/Default.aspx

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Backstage is VERY NEGATIVE:

"Chase and Gets earn A's for effort in trying to add a third dimension to characters with only two. Chase displays a powerful and affecting voice in numbers like "The Butterfly," an early effort at a short story by Thomas, and "I Like It Here," a one-way dialogue with an unseen girlfriend. Gets keeps the geeky Alvin from becoming too cloyingly eccentric.

One wonders what a Tony Award–winning director like Richard Maltby Jr. saw in this flimsy two-hander. He stages it with efficiency, but there is so little here that minutes after leaving the theatre, it all melts from memory like the snow angels about which the friends constantly sing."

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003943180

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Not looking good. Who knows though, the show's gotta be cheap to run, so maybe they'll hold out until Tony time.

I'm sure no one involved thought the show would run for years.

Still not looking good enough.
I think this musical will close tomorrow.

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