rOcKS @ 'Cry-Baby'

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 6:26pm

Just saw it this afternoon and while it is NOT the worst musical ever, it is severely flawed and such uninteresting fluff that it's truly dismissable. Cry-Baby has a lot going for it, a strong built-in cult fanbase via the film, a great team of technical artists from book-writers to lighting designers, fresh new talent penning the score, and a talented cast. Too bad none of the factors above are taken full advantage of. Almost everything in this show is half-assed. They obviously want it to be as avant-garde and original and John-Waters-y as the film but still are trying to appeal to the traditional theater-goer. So when they try to put eccentric trademarks into the show, it's done so awkwardly because the creators simply can't seem to find level ground somewhere between John Waters camp and Broadway musical comedy. They obviously are trying to make it a different show than Hairspray and it is, it simply can't be compared.

The score is incredibly banal. Every single song sounds exactly the same. The lyrics, however, were very smart at times and best captured the essence of the original film. They also had the tendency to become cheesy and cliche as well. It's an extremely uneven score that I honestly don't remember much of. I got an immense headache during Baby Baby Baby Baby (Baby Baby Baby)...yes that's what it's called. It just didn't really work.

The book is extremely pedestrian which is very upsetting considering that it is penned by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell who created such a bright, funny, engaging, and powerful book for Hairspray. The characters are ALL underdeveloped, mostly all uninteresting (besides what the actors put into their roles), and the jokes range from flying over the audience's head to not flying anywhere and just dying on the spot. Some land, some flop, and some don't even get off the ground.

The sets are really nice if uninventive, the costumes are bright and colorful, the lighting is migraine-inducing, and the orchestrations are fine.

The direction, by Mark Brokaw, is high-school level at best. Thankfully, the show's one major saving grace is Rob Ashford's fantastic choreography. He won't win the Tony this year (In The Heights will win for it's beautiful choreography) but he should at least be nominated. Jailhouse Jubilee was the one moment in the show that soared for me, mainly because of the choreography with the license plates. The dancing is really wonderful.

James Snyder is obviously giving the role his all, but I think he's a little out of his league here...he's obviously very talented, but I don't think this show is the one to start him off with (it's his Broadway debut). He didn't really leave much of an impact on me which, when you're playing the title role, isn't a good sign. Elizabeth Stanley is okay...again, obviously very talented but one can't help but wonder what Sutton Foster or someone of that nature could have done with this role. Harriet Harris is fine in the most underwritten role in the show. Allie Mauzey is hilarious and will surely only grow more and more into her role as she gets more comfortable. Christopher Hanke is underwhelming, Chester Gregory III is good, and the rest of the cast does a nice job.

Basically, there's really nothing I despised about the show, I thought it was fun but I can't help but think that in a week I won't even remember I saw it. The audience loved it and I hope they continue to work on it...the potential is there. The show seemed to be in conflict with itself for most of the 2 and a half hours. The score went one way, the lyrics went another, the book went one way, the direction went another, one half of the cast went one way, the other half of the cast went another...it was very muddled and underwhelming.

** out of ****

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 6:26pm

And for the record, I would rather sit through CRY BABY 100 times than ever see GREASE again.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 6:28pm

I don't understand why people want to put Sutton Foster in every show known to man. Elizabeth's performance is far from perfect, but Sutton is completely wrong for Allison. She'd be completely miscast, whereas I think Elizabeth is just poorly directed.

Updated On: 4/12/08 at 06:28 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:13pm

and too old for the role.
Sutton would be too. Updated On: 4/12/08 at 07:13 PM

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:15pm

Sutton Foster, no. Jenn Gambatese--yes.

I am in the minority here, but the more I think about the show, the more I like it.
Saw it twice and there is a lot there to like. But its the fashion to dislike this show on these boards. What do I know? I didnt like Evita as Gypsy.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:20pm

Oh Bert. Poor, poor, pathetic, one-note Bert.
Please try to write a post without saying how much you loath LuPone or how Cry-Baby gives you a hard-on. Maybe then you can have any sort of credibility.

[BrianS]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:24pm

Great review. I agree with a lot. Unfortunately, I think they are defanging it to make it more palatable to group ticket sales when I feel that it should be going the other direction. The nudity is gone. The four letter words are gone.

This show should be as edgy as Avenue Q (at the very least) and skewering the illusion of the "utopian 50's" that the modern day Republican party wants us to go back to. By watering it down (how's that for an oxymoron), they are going to get Hairspray-lite without the great score or feel-good storyline. This will placate the group-sales crowd, but ultimately hurt the shows chances. People should be shocked by the jokes, but laughing in spite of themselves, not politely applauding. Urinetown nailed that tone and was fighting a much bigger uphill battle than this show to find an audience.

I'm glad the show is getting standing ovations, but they need people telling their friends about the show the way people were when Avenue Q first opened and that won't happen if they play it safe.

[bertandrew2]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:30pm

Thanks Midnight Radio. But I don't need your approval.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:36pm

They cut the naked male dancers' butts?
That was the best part of the show.
Updated On: 4/12/08 at 07:36 PM

[theatre2]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:36pm

i hope soon they do a cast cd like all the other shows.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/12/08 at 7:45pm

Best part of the show? Tt was the ONLY part of the show.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:42am

I seriously forgot tonight that I even saw this show. It just left no impression on me whatsoever...so weird.


But yes, Jenn Gambetese would be good but I do think Sutton could still pull it off.

Or a young Sherie Rene Scott (obviously too old now) would have been PERFECT.


If there are any questions, ask away!

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 1:46am

I saw it this afternoon and while it isn't earth shattering, I had a good time. I was all set to hate it from what I've read on this board, but it was an enjoyable afternoon. I am glad I saw it.

[tommyslim]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 9:35am

i saw it last week and the only thing keeping me entertained was the choreography. everything else was pathetic. the quality of acting in the show was awful, the direction was was awful and the score is terrible.

the best person in the show was crazy stalker girl, and its clearly had that much of an impact on me i cant even remember her name. haha.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 9:42am

The nudity is gone.

Is Spencer Liff still shirtless?

[tommyslim]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 9:55am

he wasn't when i saw it

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:02am

No shirtlessness....I think they're in wife-beaters at one point.


I honestly don't remember too many details of the show. Oh and the audience ate it up. Even though there wasn't uproarious laughter or applause throughout, I heard people raving about it and saying how much fun they had as I left the theater. And also, I hated that after Jailyard Jubilee, the one good song in the show, they didn't leave time for applause. The audience clapped during the middle of the song and if they had allowed for a break after the song, probably would have went wild.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:04am

That's ridiculous; Spencer Liff's abs were one of the best parts of the show!!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:09am

Amen, Dottie.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:13am

They obviously also have some technical issues to smooth out...during 'Its All In My Head' or whatever that crappy song was, when Cry Baby and Allison come out of the revolving doors, Snyder's got stuck and he had to shove himself through. And parts of the set didn't move off on time, forcing actors to awkwardly move them off stage and I think I even caught a stage hand pushing a set piece off.

So apparently, they have a lot of work to do in multiple respects...

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:14am

Crap! One of the two things going on for the show was removed!

Now...what's the point of me seeing this show next week!

Well... I guess.. CRY-BABY just lost one of the things I might put in my LIKE IT! shirtless Spencer Liff!

J*

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:17am

Maybe the powers that be thought it was too distracting!! Distracting in a good way! LOL

[jaystarr]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 10:18am

Is Spencer Lift's abs on the top of the title... I might be able to get a REFUND!!

They removed one of the best thing going on for the show! Crap!

Now how do they expect me to endure the 2 1/2 hours without seeing shirtless Lift Spencer...C'mon! give me something to look forward!


J*
Updated On: 4/13/08 at 10:18 AM

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/13/08 at 11:31am

Spencer was never shirtless. His shirt is open. That's all. That's all it has been.