tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post2060988317943257316..comments2012-12-06T17:29:30.795-08:00Comments on Stet CP: Review of "Tales of the City: A New Musical"Charles Purdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04219184763176974846noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post-72728138158915902742011-06-22T20:12:26.426-07:002011-06-22T20:12:26.426-07:00I'm hoping it will improve when it gets back f...I'm hoping it will improve when it gets back from New York. IF it gets out alive.<br /><br />Few of the songs are memorable, those that are aren't because of their melodies. The observation about the raunch factor is point-on. When Mother Mucca, in the books, says she's a Mean-mother-fucca from Winemucca, that was an exception to the rule for the book as a whole. When Mother Mucca leads the song in this play, the lines are so filthy I was surprised to see the white haired gals in front of me clap at the end. <br /><br />I'm thinking back to "Suddenly Last Summer" when they managed to do an entire movie with A-Line actresses talking about homosexuality without ever mentioning the word, and ended up saying far more than all the cheap vulgarity in this show ever managed to convey.<br /><br />Less is more, and that is doubly true for the forgettable music. I kept thinking of "Hair", it was like any minute now we're going to hear a great song, but the great songs never came. And when are they going to realize that upping the volume is no substitute for quality singing and good music?<br /><br />The best line came near the end though, a throw away line that is so true---"it's a story that never ends". Maupin wrote one story, but he's been telling it for over 30 years, only Beach Blanket Babylon, and perhaps the Bible come close.Gryphonislehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133548136303184616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post-67081227048956639892011-06-01T14:32:05.236-07:002011-06-01T14:32:05.236-07:00Thanks for sharing your comment. I agreed with you...Thanks for sharing your comment. I agreed with you about the set -- I understand the limitations they're working within, but that big hulking staircase didn't seem at all appropriate. It looked like the back staircase they add (slapdash-edly) behind Victorians. I would've loved to get more of a sense of 28 Barbary Lane.Charles Purdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04219184763176974846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post-18985781680883109512011-06-01T14:07:34.165-07:002011-06-01T14:07:34.165-07:00i just saw it this past saturday. and it was disap...i just saw it this past saturday. and it was disappointing to say the least. way too much to say on these wonderful books in a 3 hour musical, that still needs trimming. the show has no heart. barbary lane is reduced to a gray dismal staircase - not much magic in that. mary ann is way to sexy. mona is great as is mouse, dee dee and mrs. madrigal. there are just too many sub-plots and characters for anyone to care about anyone on stage. and if ur not familiar with the books or mini series u will be completely lost. the audience is about 93% gay. how does that transfer to the big apple? not enough to keep a show going like this. it wasn't the worst thing i've seen but it's far from the best or being a broadway quality show.TheOneDeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16682919682423601787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post-81879239436289309222011-05-28T16:10:47.325-07:002011-05-28T16:10:47.325-07:00I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I had very high ...I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I had very high expectations, too; maybe that was unfair of me. It wasn't bad; it could just be better. (Like, with Betty Buckley! She would've been great, though this Mrs. Madrigal is good, too.)<br /><br />I think improving it could be very easy: If I needed to quickly revise, I'd cut some of the slower numbers, pump in some disco, and just make it sexier. I'm interested to hear what you think after you see it!Charles Purdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04219184763176974846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5483991854754391470.post-4165397977327120412011-05-28T15:50:15.273-07:002011-05-28T15:50:15.273-07:00I do hope you are right that they will still retoo...I do hope you are right that they will still retool before Opening Night! I am seeing it on June 8 and have high hopes. But now that Betty Buckley isn't playing Mrs. Madrigal my expectations have slipped a teensy bit.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233056356863104742noreply@blogger.com