Why I walked out of MEMPHIS

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 10:29pm

I knew nothing about MEMPHIS walking into the theater. For a show with more than 30 billed producers, there was exceedingly little publicity.

Look, I wish MEMPHIS well. I really do. It's an important story they're telling. The problem is that they relegate this important story to generic, cliche-ridden, overblown Broadway spectacle.

Quite frankly, I was just bored. The show suffers the same way that the previous Joe DiPietro-David Bryan collaboration suffers: unmemorable score. The problem there is that there's actual music from this period that is significantly better than the tunes composed for Act I. DiPietro's script isn't very strong either; the plot line is one we've all seen before, the characters the same ones we've all seen before, etc.

There's a lot of money on stage, but everything is ugly. The cast is talented, but from the rafters where I was sitting, all it seemed was that poor Montego Glover and Chad Kimball, etc., were all just vocalizing with distinctly out-of-period electric guitars.

The crowd did go wild, it was heavily comped (big stack of comped tix in the box office), they were filming B-Roll and Joan Marcus was there taking photos.

Oh well.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 10:41pm

It only gets worse in Act II Yankee. You were wise to exit.

Cliche really describes this show. With zero marquee names, zero material recognition, and the nearly non-existent buzz on this, I can't see it lasting long through its opening.

I wish Montego Glover a better show. She really is a fantastic star.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 10:46pm

It's shocking to me how little buzz there is, for a show of this size. I mean, I didn't even know it was playing until I see it pop up on TDF.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 11:29pm

I saw the show tonight as well and didn't find it nearly as bad as you did. Yes, it's full of cliches and no, it won't change the face of the American Musical Theater, but for what it is, it's fine. There's some great voices on that stage and judging by the packed house tonight, this just might find an audience.

[DavidPatrickS82]

Posted: 9/25/09 at 11:47pm

Agreed Jordan... there was some SINGING on that stage, and if that is the only reason to see it, at least there is something that you don't have to try to follow and you can just hear some great voices!