Yes, Another BROOKYN Review - 10/9- Page 4

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:02pm

NStar - I know there's a story within a story in Bklyn but now I'm TOTALLY confused...BKLYN comes to bklyn from overseas to find her father so she SHOULDNT be wearing what the streetperfomers are wearing right? or is it that the FAIRYTALE told by Cleavant Bkln is famous but she's really homeless?

ahhhhhhh forget it.. I don't get it...
.but I enjoyed their performances when I saw them

[LouW95]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:07pm

Attended Brooklyn last night. It was a benefit performance for The Best of Brooklyn. Most of the house was sold to Brooklynites who were there with Borough Pres. Marty Markowitz. They came there excited but I noticed that atmosphere deteriorate throughout the almost 1 hr. 45 min. show.

Many people leaving the theater expressed disappointment at the show being way too loud with one performer trying to outscream the other. The music began to sound the same. By the end of the first half hour, I observed people all around the orchestra section beginning to squirm, check their watches and demonstrate other signs of boredom. About half the audience gave the show the obligatory standing ovation but no one went out humming anything but La La La La La and not in the proper tune.

I had hoped for better and would rate the show a weak 6 out of 10. I went there wanting to love it but must say it just didnt have the book, music and moment of explosion needed in a great musical. It might work better off broadway in a smaller house with about 20-30 mins. less material. I predict very mixed reviews mostly on the negative side and a struggle to last on Bway. I hope I am wrong and never enjoy seeing a show close HOWEVER I know what I observed and it wasnt a memorable night of theater.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:19pm

[NStar21]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 4:47pm

Lol, Wickedfan2, I think I might be getting confused now too! :)

Okay, the way I viewed this was that: The moment streetsinger starts the story, Brooklyn becomes that famous singer and I'm not saying that she should wear what the street performers are wearing BUT she should wear something a lot nicer than what she ends up wearing. She's a famous singer (within Clevant's story) and I just think that should be represented more (but nothing to elaborate that it stands out and is too distracting).

As to your point about Brooklyn being famous but is homeless, I thought about that too and perhaps all the references to Brooklyn saying she's homeless might do with the fact that because she doesn't really belong anywhere and have a family... that makes her homeless. But I just think that's way too confusing but I think our posts back and forth represent a HUGE problem with the musical. It's really confusing and no one really KNOWS what is going on and what is fantasy and what is reality. And that's a problem from what I hear hasn't been fixed yet. I mean taking out Karen coming out 15 minutes before the show is good but that could have stayed compared to the other issues this musical faces. And I'm not trying to trash it in anyway but there's a problem when a storyline is as confusing as Brooklyn and it's not being fixed or clarified a bit more.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 10/14/04 at 6:23pm

Aw, you blew it now Lou... Now you are not going to get a "thanks for the great review" from Tiny !!! You are a bad person... a bad, bad person.

So, you saw people checking their watches after 30 mins? It was 15 for me. Maybe they changed some things??

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/15/04 at 10:05am

Thanks NStar - It is a bit confusing...but I thought that was just me... :-0

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 10:23am

I saw the show on Saturday night and was so disappointed. I was really looking forward to this and was so let down. Bad story, craptastic music and a disjointed production. Cleavant Derricks was wonderful, though--incredibly soulful and my absolute favorite--definitely the most seasoned performer in the cast. Eden's got impressive vocal chops and an insane range, but sadly, the material doesn't do her any justice. Karen Olivo's singing was gorgeous and she was underused. Kevin Anderson? A complete waste of space. Ramona Keller has a ton of charisma and talent and was great to watch...she's like a young Patti La Belle!

My applause to the cast for their efforts, but what they've been given to work with just isn't up to their talents. I could never in good conscience recommend the show to anyone. This show won't last. Updated On: 10/18/04 at 10:23 AM

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 11:03am

Not to diss something that I know some people love and/or start a fight or antyhing but sadly, I must concur.

I saw 5 shows this weekend and Brooklyn was the only one I even remotely disliked - and I was extremely disappointed.

I agree - Eden has nice chops but overall I wasn't very impressed with her. I DO feel like that was because there's more there than is shown in the show. Ramona - TOTALLY reminded me of a young Patti Labelle as well! She is amazing and so captivating to watch. I felt she stole the show. Cleavant was wonderful as well, just such a veteran of Broadway - I felt that shone through. However I also feel like there is m uch more HE is capable of than just 'narrating' and such - give him something with some emotional chops, y'know? I also LOVED Karen Olivo and felt she was extremely underused. Kevin Anderson - I didn't think he was bad at all but he didn't blow m e away or anything.

The set and costumes...can't find the right way to describe it. It was extremely creative and neat to watch...but to the point that A: I found myself more excited to see what neat set or costume gimmick was coming next rather than what would happen in the show and B: it was a bit over the top for me. If you're going to use that concept of poor street people performing a show, than it should have been something a little more simple - yes, fix the garbage bag costume up a bit so it's not just literally a garbage bag, but making a gorgeous gown out of it is a LITTLE too much for me and just made it unbelievable and made it feel more like a gimmick than a justified concept to me.

The songs felt absolutely pointless. They neither captured a great moment where we were dying to know what that character was thinking, showed a big change in the character, nor served to move the story along. The only one I liked for its musicality (for I felt there was no other purpose for the songs anywasy) was Brooklyn Grew Up, and even that was eh. It felt like a musical of Diane Warren songs or something.

And the story...it seemed like it was trying to be too deep, jumping around A LOT, pretty farfetched at times, and I felt a bit self-indulgent and preachy. Had I NOT known the personal story of the composer however, I dunno if I'd have felt the same.

Someone had told me prior to my trip not to see Brooklyn - to save my money. For whatever reason I felt I needed to see for myself. Fifty-five dollars later I wish I'd have waited for a bootleg if anything.

But by all means, judge for yourself.

I certainly do not wish for this show to be unsuccessful. I just think it has a lot of revisions and work before it gets to where it needs to be to be successful for its run. I certainly wish it the best though! :)

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 11:04am

On a kinder note, I will add that "Streetsinger" was really enjoyable. Eden, and ESPECIALLY Cleavant--killed in that number. It took me to church : )

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 11:13am

Reviews come out later this week... and i'm kinda nervous. I feel like there is so much dam hype around this show, that it's going to get reviews it doesn't deserve. It has to say somehting when every single person comes back from it saying that same things.... the performers are good but the show is crap.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 11:18am

I feel bad that these outstanding performers are in this show that is gonna get blasted...

rkrispyt - thank you for such a detailed review!

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 11:25am

they have really bright futures though... 4 of them are relatively young, and Eden is gonna kick ass in whatever she does..

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 2:18pm

im done fighting lol but,why do you all do thisssssssssss lol jk. Opinions are free in the USA.

My god ive edited this post 3 times for spelling. I really am stupid :o( Updated On: 10/18/04 at 02:18 PM

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/18/04 at 2:19pm

P.S.

That wasn't meant to start anything more.
Love U All and Justin G-string. Updated On: 10/18/04 at 02:19 PM

[blueroses]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 9:49am

Was anyone else, I don't know....underwhelmed by Eden Espinosa? After all of the hype surrounding her I just expected more (I didn't see her in Wicked--I only saw Idina--but I heard Eden was terrific). Aside from her voice--which undeniably is a gift from God--she didn't DO much for me (and yes I know the script sucked--but I still looked forward to seeing Streetsinger, Paradice and Faith). I didn't care about her character and didn't think she was that commanding a presence. She didn't have the depth of, for example, Karen Olivo (Faith). She's young and maybe she needs more experience. Great singer? Absolutely. Great musical theater actress? I have reservations.

This is just my opinion. I wish Eden all of the best...she is a gifted vocalist with a bright future, I am sure, on Broadway.

Thoughts?

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 10:17am

BLUEROSES- I agree with you. There was a ton of hype surrounding her, and i only heard great things about her performance in Wicked. And although I beleive she has great talent, and "Once Upon a Time" blew me away, I in no way agree that she is any type of gift from G-d. She still sounds very young, but still has plenty of time to mature.. and grow out of that "screechy" aspct of her voice.
I have no doubt that she will do well.... in a better show than BKLYN : )

[Eyemakeup3]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 10:39am

They should of opened this in small theater off-broadway.

They should of created a less strident marketing campaign.

They should of worked on the "book" a bit longer.

They should stop putting so much on the talented shoulders of young Eden. She's good, but not a miracle worker.

They should of put a stop to the family member/producer's assistant/secondary shills who all but ensured a negative buzz with their caustic and naked cheering of the show.

They'll "face the music" Friday morning.

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:08am

who are you, miss cleo with your predictions?

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:16am

p.s. i am not cheering naked hehe.. nobody wants to see that crap lol.

come on people someone laugh at my stupid jokes! i am home sick!

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:16am

Didn't Miss Cleo go to jail for fraud?

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:18am

haha! she did. I think my brother and I once called when we were little because we read the little white caption wrong and got charged like $50.00 lol.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 11:28am

oh noooooo Amneris you didn't!!! LOL

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 12:10pm

Blueroses, I concur. I was kind of underwhelmed by Eden's performance. Don't get me wrong - her voice blew me away, but it was a voice that I say "yup, she's really good" but I don't ENJOY listening to it, y'know? That's just a personal preference though, I'm like that with tons of great performers. The thing with Eden is that (and I think this is a good thing) it is made out to be something where you expect to go in and see how she's the standout star, but when I saw it I didn't think she was any better than any other perosn on that stage. And the hype makes it out like she shoudl be or she's gonna be. The rest of the cast is just as strong adn just as mis/under-used.

To cut her some slack though and look a little further into why, here's my thoughts: Although I didn't think she had the most amazing presence (I did keep getting drawn to Karen's presence a lot instead of watching Eden - she has tremendous stage presence) the show is basically written for her to stand there like some Celine Dion type and sing a song - not like an actress, like a pop star performing in concert. There's not a lot of acting songs - the only one where she was given the opportunity was that The Truth, and that was just...I dunno, poorly done I thought. The music was begging for it to be more intense and the staging was so blah, just like pacing back and forth and there was no real strong confrontation between the two characters...wasted opportunity for a really powerful moment.

In a nutshell, I think that the book and music don't allow for Eden to show that she is (because she may very well be, I don't know) an amazing musical theatre actress. The song aren't songs for an actress, they're songs for celine dion to stand there and sing,y'know?

Speaking of which - on the website when you download songs...Eden totally sounds to me like Celine Dion when she sings. She didn't live, but on the recorded stuff she does to me - anyone else? Weird.

I agree 110% with Eyemakeup3 on all those points:

-It SHOULD have started out smaller with perhaps an off-broadway run, making it more open to criticism, rewrites, fine tuning, lessening the expectations, and overall allowing more room and time for growth before attempting a make-it or break-it Broadway run.

-They really did themselves in by creating such hype around it - now people are either going to love it or hate it because expecations are so high for it be perfect as is.

-It does need some serious revision, but it does have potential to be a great show - I hope they do some revising and aren't stubborn about it in its current form.

I've rambled long enough - lunch time! :)

Kristy

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 12:19pm

ooh ooh ooh - I finally pinpointed a way to word my probs with the costume and set:

It was very poor use of suspension of disbelief. The story gets you to the point where you believe what yu're seeing, despite so many things that aren't possible, but then tries to pull itself OUT of that suspension of disbelief by saying "we know you won't believe that they could really be wearing a nice ball gown here or that the angel would have wings cause these are poor streetsingers putting this on for you" by making things even MORE unrealistic in their use of garbage bags as fancy gowns, etc.

does that m ake more sense?

They should have just gone with teh suspension of disbelief, ignored the 'pulling you back to reality' bit, because unlike Brecht it didn't have (although it could if done right) a heavy personal message to ring through to each audience member, and let it get fancy, and at the END return us to teh world of the storytellers on the streets.

Just my opinion.

[wickedfan2]

Posted: 10/19/04 at 1:07pm

Krispy - I enjoy reading your posts.. You have a way of explaining your opinion and details of a show that I can easily understand...thank you..