rOcKS @ 'Finian's Rainbow'

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 10:58pm

I'm gonna do my best to keep this short & sweet.

I felt like the biggest problem with the show is also its biggest asset. The show is old-fashioned. So at times, you feel like you're watching a real old-fashioned Broadway musical (thanks mainly to the wonderful score and gorgeous orchestrations.) But at other times, you can almost hear the show creak. It's dated and it shows.

The production itself is fine but, truthfully, it felt a bit stale and "blah" to me. Its pretty to look at and lovely in many ways but I found myself ADMIRING it more than LOVING it. The direction can be blamed for this, I guess. Some moments work splendidly (the opening number, the ballet, and If This Isn't Love are gorgeous) but others feel stale and just polite-applause-worthy.

The majority of the cast do the best with what they're given (it felt like many of them hadn't fully developed their characters yet). Fitzgerald, Norton, Cooper, and White are entertaining. Baldwin has a beautiful, beautiful voice and Jackson is playing the role (sadly) the same way he plays every role.

I liked the set (even if it dwarfed the stage), the costumes are gorgeous, the lighting was lovely, and the choreography was excellent.

This isn't a bad show; its just one I admired more than loved. And that's about the best way I can put it. It feels like a museum piece more than the lively revival it should and could have been. If I'm being 100% honest, I doubt I'll remember I saw it come next week.

**1/2 out of ****
Updated On: 10/23/09 at 10:58 PM

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 10/22/09 at 11:07pm

I completely agree. Didn't love it but admired and appreciated it.

Some old fashion Broadway shows can come back today and be excellent. This show just seems old. Nothing really against the production I just think the show itself is not one that is supposed to be revived.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 12:10am

"and Jackson is playing the role (sadly) the same way he plays every role."

thank you for saying this. you are 100% correct.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 12:34am

I was there tonight as well and I feel the same way Rocks does.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 1:24am

Sounds exactly what most audiences want to see.
I haven't seen many comments on the actress playing
Susan the Silent.
Sorry I don't know her name.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 1:52am

Saw the show Wednesday night, and I quite adored it! Found it to be warm and charming. Cast was all-out great, though. Kate Baldwin (admittedly never heard of her before) has a amazing voice, and one could just melt listening to her sing. Was Alina Faye the sister? She was great as well. Jim Norton continues to charm the heck out of me, and nice to see Chuck Cooper onstage again. The choreography was strong and energetic, though having to hear the shoes squeak against the floor was distracting with the numerous turns. The production on the whole was fast-moving and breezy, and I quite enjoyed it.

I hate to say, I'm starting to agree the bloom is off the rose with Cheyenne. His next role needs to be real stretch to see what he can really do without relying on his folksy/sexy charm. Though here he sings his songs quite nicely, and I enjoyed the cartwheel, so I'll give him some leeway.

Also...Cheyenne may have the best thighs out there, but Christopher Fitzgerald arguably the best calves on Broadway! (I'd like to see the marketing team put THAT on a poster!)

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 2:03am

"I haven't seen many comments on the actress playing
Susan the Silent.
Sorry I don't know her name."

Alina Faye is her name, and she's a professional ballet dancer. I thought she was great and a very lovely dancer.

As for the rest of the show, I really loved it. Sure, it's old fashioned and maybe a little hokey but it was a fun time and the production itself is great. Kate Baldwin is lovely and her voice is absolutely beautiful. Other highlights for me were Christopher Fitzgerald as Og and Chuck Cooper as Bill Rawkins. Fitzgerald and Cooper are probably turning in the strongest performances of the bunch as of right now and I could possibly see another Tony nom for Chris Fitzgerald. I do like Cheyenne Jackson and he sounds really great singing this type of music but in general I have to agree with most of you...that he plays everything pretty much the same. I'm not sure whether this is his fault, how he's directed, or a little bit of both.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 9:51am

I do wish Jackson had found a little more to do with the part, but I think there's not a lot to be done with it. The character is a piece of wood, there's just nothing there. He does the best he can, I'd say. But agreed, he needs to find a bigger and better role in which he can really shine.

And I'll take Jackson's reality-based take on the role of Woody in FINIAN'S RAINBOW over Chad Kimball's appallingly atrocious scenery chewing in MEMPHIS.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 9:51am

RE: Cheyenne playing the same all the time. In the three shows I've seen him in, the character itself was kind of loopy. I'm hoping he gets a shot at something like Carousel -- you can't play loopy there by any stretch.

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 10:20am

But given the big bucks and the fact that producers can be averse to risk, it's much more likely that we'll see Jackson in a revival of Lil' Abner than anything that resembles a stretch.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 10:24am

ROCKS - Are you just a 17 yr. old fan of the contemporary teeny bopper musicals? I'm actually asking only because your review doesn't seem fair & balanced, at all.

You need to understand that critcizing & reviewing an "old-fashioned" musical is much much much different than talking about how amazing Wicked was or how mind blowing Next To Normal was. I almost ger the feeling that you went in with a negative opinion...

It's a cute show with beautiful material. Probably just too "old-fashioned" for your tastes. So what? Learn to appreciate those older musicals.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 11:54am

Thank you for telling me what I "need" to do.
WTF...

And why is "I almost get the feeling that you went in with a negative opinion... " always the response when I write a negative review? Just because I don't have a hernia at every show I see and think each one is incredible doesn't mean I went in with a preconceived notion. In fact, with this show, I went in with an excited, positive mindset.

And your post is really rude for no reason. I am not a 17 year old teeny-bopper fan. I see 40+ shows every year and post my reviews on here for every single one. I have enjoyed mainstream work like WICKED (recognizing its gaping flaws) and NEXT TO NORMAL but have also throughly enjoyed recent productions like GYPSY and SOUTH PACIFIC. Newsflash: I can be a fan of both in different ways.

Updated On: 10/23/09 at 11:54 AM

[SNAFU]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 12:25pm

Go ROCKS!

I am probably going to check this show out in the next week or so. I saw the revival a few years ago at the Irish Rep and was moved greatly by this Old Fashioned, hokey and yes, dated show. The wonderful lyrics themselves are a reason to see It.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 2:15pm

My point being that you found its flaws from being "old fasioned" and dated. Which is so not true.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 2:34pm

Its not a matter of a definite truth. That is YOUR opinion and you are entitled to it. I happen to disagree and I'm entitled to do so...

[jeffmiele]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 6:12pm

i know a read a lot more than post, mainly out of laziness, so don't look at my low status thing under my name when i make this comment, but there is so much negativity on this board.. i agree with Rocks with both the review and the fact that an opinion is an opinion and that's what this board was placed hear for, for everyone to share their ideas and converse with other theatre lovers.. never understood why there had to be so much attitude here with so many people.

[AryaUnderfoot]

Posted: 10/23/09 at 6:14pm

I was going to post a review of my own, but you just said it all for me, rOcKs!