#1
Posted: 10/17/10 at 12:27am
Saw Scottsboro boys a few days ago and it really made me think. Not so much about racism but about what things the show needed to be transformed from a mediocre show to a spectacular show.
Don't get me wrong I actually really really liked it. But that's not without caveat. What the show really has going for it is that amazing ending. Kudos to whoever came up with that idea because it's kind of breath taking. It certainly changed my mind about the entire production. However I don't think we should rely on that ending to wow the audience.
I'll start by addressing the score. I think it's very good. Nothing groundbreaking but very good - as can be expected from Kander and Ebb. My only request is that the cast sing a reprise of HOME because that song is too good to only hear once. Maybe right before the end, maybe at the curtain call. Just somewhere in there.
Next I think that the diction of the two bozo characters needs to be clearer. Most of their jokes were lost on the audience because which made for an uncomfortably silent and grim opening during which I actually thought "oh no this is going to be a big flop." I don't think it'll flop but everyone in the audience was nervous for the first 30 minutes maybe more.
Next I have to talk about Susan Stroman's direction. I get what she was doing trying to go with the whole "minimal" set thing. Honestly it works to some extent... but I think it limits what the show is capable of drastically. I think it would have been nice to get A LOT more razzle dazzle in this piece juxtaposed against the minimal sets to show the difference between the real world of the boys on trial and the minstrel show. During a specific number where the lead, Hayword takes the witness stand he splits back and forth between a very serious monologue and a minstrel song. The acting choices he has to maneuver are VERY drastic transforming himself from Denzel Washington to Mr. Bojangles in seconds... however NOTHING as far as sets, backdrops, or even LIGHTING changes to show the audience the change of realities. Kudos to Joshua Henry for doing it all himself - a tony nom is definite if the show lasts till Tony season. But it would be so effective if drastic lighting changes or backdrops flew in to show the difference. This sort of thing is rampant all over the show. I would have liked a lot more spectacle - isn't that one of the 6 dramatic elements of Socrates? If the idea is for this to be a minstrel show - I think we need to commit more fully to the spectacle of that. That includes costumes for the boys at the beginning and lots more creative lighting. The lighting for this show was pretty minimal - like the set.
The cast was great! The chairs were great - that worked Susan! I'm not sure the tambourines worked though... a bit dated and not in the way the show sets out to be dated. More like Tommy Tune dated, but if they clean it up a bit more before opening night it could work. I imagine it's probably too late to have a piece fly in for court room scenes... but maybe not. I'd also like to have a bit of multimedia... make some better use of that big ol' white screen in the background. Show some real footage back there during key moments... use it to show place and time too since the set is soo minimal.. show us newspaper articles or newscasts... whatever just something to keep the show from going stale in the middle.
I heard several people say they got bored in the middle or at the beginning... "but the end was amazing." Again this could be fixed with more razzle dazzle, some scene changes, better and more creative lighting choices. Drastic choices. Maybe use these things they call "spotlights" for your two hosts.
All in all, this show has a S**t load of potential. I just hope the creative team hasn't frozen the show yet - since all signs point to the idea that they have... there are still little things they can do to improve it and take it from a good show to a SPECTACULAR show!
your thoughts??? Smart comments only please - if you didnt' like it please explain how to fix it...
Don't get me wrong I actually really really liked it. But that's not without caveat. What the show really has going for it is that amazing ending. Kudos to whoever came up with that idea because it's kind of breath taking. It certainly changed my mind about the entire production. However I don't think we should rely on that ending to wow the audience.
I'll start by addressing the score. I think it's very good. Nothing groundbreaking but very good - as can be expected from Kander and Ebb. My only request is that the cast sing a reprise of HOME because that song is too good to only hear once. Maybe right before the end, maybe at the curtain call. Just somewhere in there.
Next I think that the diction of the two bozo characters needs to be clearer. Most of their jokes were lost on the audience because which made for an uncomfortably silent and grim opening during which I actually thought "oh no this is going to be a big flop." I don't think it'll flop but everyone in the audience was nervous for the first 30 minutes maybe more.
Next I have to talk about Susan Stroman's direction. I get what she was doing trying to go with the whole "minimal" set thing. Honestly it works to some extent... but I think it limits what the show is capable of drastically. I think it would have been nice to get A LOT more razzle dazzle in this piece juxtaposed against the minimal sets to show the difference between the real world of the boys on trial and the minstrel show. During a specific number where the lead, Hayword takes the witness stand he splits back and forth between a very serious monologue and a minstrel song. The acting choices he has to maneuver are VERY drastic transforming himself from Denzel Washington to Mr. Bojangles in seconds... however NOTHING as far as sets, backdrops, or even LIGHTING changes to show the audience the change of realities. Kudos to Joshua Henry for doing it all himself - a tony nom is definite if the show lasts till Tony season. But it would be so effective if drastic lighting changes or backdrops flew in to show the difference. This sort of thing is rampant all over the show. I would have liked a lot more spectacle - isn't that one of the 6 dramatic elements of Socrates? If the idea is for this to be a minstrel show - I think we need to commit more fully to the spectacle of that. That includes costumes for the boys at the beginning and lots more creative lighting. The lighting for this show was pretty minimal - like the set.
The cast was great! The chairs were great - that worked Susan! I'm not sure the tambourines worked though... a bit dated and not in the way the show sets out to be dated. More like Tommy Tune dated, but if they clean it up a bit more before opening night it could work. I imagine it's probably too late to have a piece fly in for court room scenes... but maybe not. I'd also like to have a bit of multimedia... make some better use of that big ol' white screen in the background. Show some real footage back there during key moments... use it to show place and time too since the set is soo minimal.. show us newspaper articles or newscasts... whatever just something to keep the show from going stale in the middle.
I heard several people say they got bored in the middle or at the beginning... "but the end was amazing." Again this could be fixed with more razzle dazzle, some scene changes, better and more creative lighting choices. Drastic choices. Maybe use these things they call "spotlights" for your two hosts.
All in all, this show has a S**t load of potential. I just hope the creative team hasn't frozen the show yet - since all signs point to the idea that they have... there are still little things they can do to improve it and take it from a good show to a SPECTACULAR show!
your thoughts??? Smart comments only please - if you didnt' like it please explain how to fix it...
