THE STORY OF MY LIFE Reviews- Page 5

[RyToast1]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 12:14pm

Umm, Beaches is my favorite movie ever. No joke. Does this mean I will like this show?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 12:17pm

Nope. But perhaps a good sign.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 12:20pm

AIDA was GOOD, too. As was LEGALLY BLONDE. (Though I think they were both better than SHREK.)

And both were left out of the Best Musical category.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 12:24pm

Good shows get left out all the time, undeserving shows get the nom on occasion...life is unfair. (So is sitting through this show!)

[Elke]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 12:47pm

CurtainUp is POSITIVE (with some remarks):

"The staging is professional and quite Broadway-worthy. The all white, bare bones set by Robert Brill that greets you when you take your seat (a desk, a chair and a lectern) bursts to dramatic life when the curtain opens all the way to reveal projectionist Dustin O'Neill's wall of books and manuscripts. Director Richard Maltby, Jr. does his utmost to keep Chase and Gets moving around.

The small, unseen band and Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations bring out the best in the music of a young musical team that knows how to touch your heart but must still find a way to do so without quite so many overly derivative and sugar-y ingredients."

http://www.curtainup.com/storyofmylife.html

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 1:10pm

That review is mixed to positive (if you want to sound generous).

[hubee]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 1:50pm

I guess the ticketlady did me a favour when she wouldn't sell the rush seats last Sunday because it was nearly (but not according to someone else) sold out.

Oh well, guess I'll never see it now. At this point, they could have used our $40 or anything for that matter.

I'm surprised since the original Toronto run didn't exactly get raves either.
here's todays article from The Toronto Star's Richard Ouzounian: http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/590526

""The show frequently crosses the border from sentiment to sentimentality, as though it were a dual citizen of those neighbouring countries," I wrote to describe its problems at the time."

Oh, here's his original review from the Toronto run:
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932099.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 2:05pm

FYI: It's on TDF for every damn day starting tomorrow till next saturday 2/28 for $35.00. At least if youre a member~ dont have to pay full price! The question is WHO WILL PAY $35.00 with these reviews? with this economy?

Sundays: February 22nd 3:00PM
Tuesdays: February 24th 8:00PM
Wednesdays: February 25th 2:00PM, February 25th 8:00PM
Thursdays: February 26th 8:00PM
Saturdays: February 21st 2:00PM, February 21st 8:00PM, February 28th 2:00PM, February 28th 8:00PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 2:10pm

Entertainment Weekly (which has been really great lately with posting their Stage reviews online) is MIXED with a letter grade of C:

"...The Story of My Life unfolds in a series of vignettes, musical short stories that should develop character and plot but never really build to anything in particular. (The paper-thin book is by Brian Hill.) While one or two of the tunes are self-contained narrative gems ('The Butterfly' is a melodic standout), most of composer-lyricist Neil Bartram's songs play like watered-down Sondheim pastiche. There's a particularly strong nod to the master's Sunday in the Park With George, with Tom fixated on his own version of 'the art of making art.' But there's simply not enough that's distinctive about these two characters, or their backgrounds, to sustain our interest; this is the rare 90-minute show that feels too long."



Full Review

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 2:58pm

Interesting that so many reviews cite the connection to SUNDAY IN THE PARK finding the new show wanting. When SUNDAY opened the reviews were mostly negative (except Frank Rich's rave in the NY Times) with so many critics writing off the score. It took several hearings (and viewings) for that show to be appreciated.

I am surprised how many of you are now writing off the chance to see this show while it is still running because of the negative reviews. It's not a show for every taste but as someone who has gown tired of overblown spectacle saddled with out-of-date jokes and populated by cartoon characters, the chance to see a character study that tries to do something different is one to be welcomed.

The fact that so many people question whether a show like this belongs on Broadway points up the big problem with Broadway today: Too much of the same thing over and over. It's a dinosaur eating its own tail. A thriving Broadway would have something different in every house and there would be room for one-person shows, two character plays and musicals right along with the big extravaganzas.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:00pm

I agree. Give this show a chance...in 20 years, people may realize its brilliance.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:04pm

Someone please stop by the box office to check if this is a "Glory Days" situation.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:15pm

The announcement of "GLORY DAYS has closed" wasn't released until about 5pm...the box office wouldn't know anything yet. I, for one, hope it at least runs a month or two.

[Elke]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:32pm

Oh wow, for some reason, I thought Glory Days' closure was announced right at the end of their first performance.

But anyway, let's not think about the Glory Days route too much. 'Story' has already charmed a lot of people (check out the reviews at BroadwayBox etc.). Word of mouth may help the show for a couple of weeks.

By the way, frontrowcentre2, I completely agree with what you said. This is a show that needs to sink in in order to be fully appreciated.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 3:36pm

This show has the good fortune of being in one of the smallest houses on Broadway.

Unlike GLORY DAYS, some people really do like this piece and are touched by it.

I'm sending my best wishes to the producers, the cast, and the creative team, who really took some nasty non-constructive lashes last night.

They all believe in this piece, and I hope they're given the time to allow more audience members believe in it, too.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 4:55pm

I too wish nothing but the best for this show. And I have to say, if you look at what is playing on Broadway right now it's hard to make the case that the community is overrun with big spectacle shows right now. Without judging the content of the shows currently on broadway, I am very pleased by the wide variety in the types of shows that are up (or that are going up). Whether you think it is a good show or bad show, at least there REALLY is a variety right now.

[yay_gerb]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 10:50pm

i really hope this show stays open for a good month or two at least, im trying to get as many people as i can to go check it out. it's such a great show. i loved the music. i and i have a ticket for tomorrow! second row center.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 10:58pm

I don't understand the "Sunday" comparisons whatsoever. There was one 3 or 4 note motive used that was mildly evocative of "Finishing the Hat" and I think that is more due to orchestration that melodic content. I found myself thinking of Bill Finn many more times than Sondheim.

I really enjoyed this show. It wasn't the most profound theatrical experience I've ever had, but it definitely touched me and I wish more people would give this production a chance.

Updated On: 2/20/09 at 10:58 PM

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/20/09 at 11:12pm

Bravo to FRONT ROW CENTRE 2 for your insightful comments about the current Broadway problems of producing the same kind of musical or play over and over and
to quote you, "It's a dinosaur eating its' own tail." Yes, EXACTLY! There's room for a variety of shows that appeal to many different audiences. It only makes for a healthier theatre. THE STORY OF MY LIFE has a beautiful score and is well acted and sung by Will Chase and Malcolm Gets. In fact, it may very well follow other great new works that
originally had mixed or great reviews but endured long after the nay sayers tried to kill it off. It's a show that deserves a good run and I hope word of mouth can keep those seats filled for another five months or so. By that time, a cast recording and exposure to a variety of people who see its' true value may insure a regional life that will prove that small and original musicals have a place in our theatre.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 12:33am

I saw the show tonight for the first time, and while I didn't hate it as much as Brantley, I didn't care for it. The Sunday in the Park undertones were VERY apparent, even without reading the reviews. There were also Into the Woods and Merrily moments for sure. My biggest problem was with the score. There was too much exposition in many of the songs. I liked the Butterfly song, but that was about it. Malcolm and Will are very talented, but the material was just kinda dull and cliche. This wasn't nearly the worst show I have seen in a long time, but it was far from the best.