I just watched it, and didn't find it nearly as bad as I was expecting. Granted, there's something wrong with nearly every aspect of the production -- with the exception of the performers.
The book is practically non-existent. It's a Cliff-notes version of the story, and assumes we all know more about the characters and plot points than the book gives us. Example, Moses' Egyptian mother simply appears with the released slaves, and stays with them for the remainder of the show -- with no explaination. Also, Moses' return to Egypt, all of the plagues, and Rameses' decision to free the slaves take place in the course of song.
The score is full of songs that are practically indistinguishable from one another. They are full of pop-ish sounds that give the talented cast plenty of opportunities to use their vocal abilities, but do nothing to advance plot. Even worse, most of them seem to function as monologue songs rather than book/action songs, leaving the poor performers nothing to do but stand there while singing them, and allowing little variety in the staging.
With the exception of the video projections, the set is basically a giant unit set that any community theatre with enough space could manage. Again, this doesn't allow for much visual variety.
Again, there was certainly more wrong than right about The Ten Commandments, but I've seen worse.
Updated On: 1/29/07 at 04:16 PM
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