Why all the "Passing Strange" Love? — Page 2

Please, Scaryotypes, don not fall into this trap of bad mouthing other shows! BTW, are any of you posters actually IN show business? (I'm not). If so, I hope that when you get your breaks that you never have to read the awful snarky, ultra negative comments on these Bway boards. It's only entertainment, remember? Let people enjoy what they enjoy! Who cares what others enjoy, even if you think it's a piece of crap...Okay, it's fun, it's contentious, but really......loosen up and SUPPORT BROADWAY!!

You're right, star. I changed what I wrote previously...even though I didn't mean to badmouth another show. That wasn't my intention.

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Okay, Mealz, I'll go with that....(I think Jaystarr and Benkaye gave excellent commentaries of the show, better than myself)
And, there are pages and pages of PS commentary by various people.
Of course, my mantra is, after many decades of theatre going...Go in with an open mind, don't listen to critics, know what you tend to like., etc. Even though I'm one of PS's biggest fans, it's NOT for everybody.
That being said, I pretty much like everything, even what I consider the "worst" shows, because everything creative is a crapshoot. Even Hal Prince, Sondheim, Mr. Abbott, Gershwin, Fosse, Mr. Belasco, etc. had bombs.

<< And it's ridiculous to assume that anyone who's an ITH fan automatically hates P.S. or vice versa. There are plenty of us who love both shows.>>

Totally agree--- I loved (3) of the shows (Best Musical Noms)-

"Xanadu", "PS", and "ITH"-- They each move me in a different way, but they are all art, and that is good enough for me !

chica, the voice of reason.

You're still the best, BLAXX!!

It was clearly too deep and real for the OP.

as travtrev4 says.... "Suck It!"

No. It's fine. You just don't get it. I don't get IN THE HEIGHTS (I do enjoy the score). It's all opinions.

But to say the score is bland and mediocre and everything? Wow. That's really ****ing stupid and, as a musician/vocalist, I disagree 100%

it's so underrated and absolutely brilliant.

It's like the rock version of a Sondheim score.

But we'll just keep it at that and agree to disagree.

City of Angels, now THERE'S a show!

I find it interesting that most people that say they don't like the show have similar comments about Stew being self-centered or there really being no narrative, or being confused as to whether the story was real or not.

I find it interesting that everyone thinks Stew is telling his own story. Certainly it's informed by his own experiences (as are many shows by some great writers such as Tony Kushner, William Finn, etc.). However, the only time I can think of in the show when Stew signs "I" is in the beginning when he's introducing himself, and again during "Work the Wound," a brilliant song which blurs the lines between the story and the real people on stage.

Perhaps the reason why people are so sure this is his own story is because it rings so true. The emotions ring true. The characters ring true. And that, to me, is a testament to the writing. I agree with the post above. This is the best show on Broadway since Caroline, or Change. A truly moving, intelligent show that tells a story in a way not seen before. And i'm not talking about the narrative structure as much as I am about the philosophical and emotional observations. It's SAYING SOMETHING that hasn't been said before. And it rang true to this 25 year old white man who's never been to Amsterdam or Berlin.

I don't know what else to say. I was horribly let down by a show I thought I was going to love. It wasn't just the critics, what I'd read about "Passing Strange" thoroughly convinced me it would be totally "my type of show". But then I got to the theatre and found it was completley the Emperor's New Clothes. I even found some of the performances sorta horrible. But I do have to restate my thoughts about the score. I was actually impressed by the lyrics. In a lot of places they were really terrific. Which really surprised me. I thought it would be the music I would love. But so not so.
Now, believe me, I have problems with "In the Heights" book. And was a little mad that they had so much time to fix it between off-B'way and B'way and they really didn't bother. But the score and the heart took me with it. Not so Stew's show.
Look, I have seen medicocrity heralded before. And usually I even understand it. This whole overtly pro "PS" phenomenon has confused and confounded me. But that was okay. Its the Best Tony talk that has lately begun to infuriate me. So I had to post. Sorry if it came off hateful. But I am honestly confused.
And yes, it is my opionion. Only my opinion and reaction to the show. But what is not my opinion. What I believe is fact: "Passing Strange" is about as "real" as televised wrestling.

Beats me.

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"And yes, it is my opionion. Only my opinion and reaction to the show. But what is not my opinion. What I believe is fact: "Passing Strange" is about as "real" as televised wrestling."

I presented what made the show wonderful to me, and then the OP responded with the above statement. It doesn't really sound like he/she's interested in respecting my opinion. They're opinion is fact.

I don't care that someone doesn't like the show. I really don't. I was simply stating why I like it (as the subject of the post asks).

These boards constantly run rampant with people bashing other people's opinions. I don't think I've done any such think. I presented my opinion. I did not say that because you disagree with it you are wrong.

There are no facts when it comes to taste. There is no such thing as a GOOD or BAD show.