THE STORY OF MY LIFE Reviews

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 4:16pm

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

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 4:26pm

Great first review! Keep them coming!!

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 5:49pm

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

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 5:51pm

No, because that one turned into a "The Story of My Life" love thread.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 5:59pm

Oy.

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:01pm

LOL

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:01pm

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

From which none are reviews?

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:04pm

that one turned into a "The Story of My Life" love thread.

Who here remembers the COMPANY fiasco, where the Reviews thread turned into a situation where, as Emcee put it, "the kids ate the babysitter"?

Good times. :)

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:05pm

Oo! Link us.

=)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:06pm

I was just thinking of that.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:08pm

Here, PiraguaGuy.

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

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 6:37pm

Newsday seems negative:

"Feb 19, 2009 ... It would be lovely to be able to say nice things about "The Story of My Life," the two-man musical that showed up on Broadway last night ..."

page isn't up yet.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:10pm

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

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:12pm

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

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:15pm

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

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:16pm

Bustopher beat me to it.

Updated On: 2/19/09 at 07:16 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:17pm

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.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:22pm

Instead of "admiring the chutzpah", you should question the sanity of the producers!

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:26pm

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

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:27pm

...Not the reviews they need. Oof.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:29pm

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

[scott68]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:30pm

I think Variety hit it pretty much dead on the nose, though I would have been kinder to the score. All the same, I hope they at least get some kind of respectable run out of this. (Broadway could use it.)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:41pm

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.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:44pm

The Bergen Record is VERY POSITIVE:

"The number of shows about the relationships between lovers, husbands and wives, parents and children and siblings is beyond calculation.

It’s comparatively rare, though, to encounter a work about friendship, and the many and complex ways it affects people’s lives.

That’s what “The Story of My Life,” an intelligent musical with a warm heart, is about."

http://www.northjersey.com/entertainment/stage/feldberg021909.html

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 2/19/09 at 7:45pm

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