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Posted: |
Sep 20, 2015 - 12:04 AM
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By: |
Morricone
(Member)
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I tried to figure out how I could post this on this side of the board. I figured since Bruce has a soundtrack label and he wrote a film musical this makes it relevant. My review of his new musical:
Okay I am not a Broadway musical aficionado. I dabble in it because I fell in love with Stephen Sondheim and more than a handful of movie musicals when I was young. I also go to Bruce Kimmel's shows regularly because his spotlight is the composer, so he has a whole batch of singers and the love is spread out onto movies, TV and hit songs. But frankly the idea of a one woman show, who happens to be a 14 year old gave me the Heebee Jeebees. Bruce's few all-children shows have been my least favorites (except one). BUT you have to show up for support so I brought my wife (not a Broadway show fan but it is growing on her) and my friend Marshall, who is allergic to musical comedy in general. And I had the benefit of hearing 3 of the songs he previewed in his regular shows and they were ALL good, so far.
Well, what we saw surprised us on a number of levels. First and foremost this was not written by a 14 year old but someone who still remembers what it was like. And it was done in collaboration with a 14 year old so their common memories could be integrated and her life experiences could be included and expressed in her own voice. So only a handful of moments feel like the wording might not be coming from Molly, and I heard Bruce talking.
Speaking of which for a while I thought Sami Staitman was an older girl playing a 14 year old but then I realized girls grow up faster today (better nutritional habits?) and they develop a curviness earlier. All of this adds to the idea I've had lately that I am becoming a dirty old man. But the other part of this came from some of the notes this lady hit and what Bruce gave her to do in this show. There are 13 songs and, in between, monologues that would have stymied Meryl Streep "Mother calls me a motor mouth" is one apt line. She has a stream-of-consciousness run that rivals that other Molly in James Joyce ( I am speaking about length here). And other than some racing ahead she did in the beginning (understand that I saw this at a preview) she hit every funny line, poignant moment and ironic non-sequitur like a pro. She is really a pert and pretty little miracle.
And then there is the other miracle. At a certain point with these 13 songs there has got to come a repetition and a certain sameness. And about the time this has outstayed it's welcome, it's over. It is a short piece but it is so jam packed, with each song making a certain point you really feel like you have had a full show. Sort of like having a meal and stopping just as you are getting full. That is because even though the voice and point-of-view is the same throughout Kimmel knows you have to make the styles different to keep it alive and kicking. The last song is his Bacharach song and the prom one is something Sondheim might have wrote. The first song has a certain Sherman Brothers quality that, like the worst of the Sherman Brothers, can get close to sappy. But it is reprieved at the end and hearing those words after you got to know Molly you realize those sappy words really are saying more than you think. Which is like the best of the Sherman Brothers. This piece is succinct and does not outstay it's welcome. It is a performance piece on which Sami Staitman's shoulders everything falls and she will get incredible praise as the rough edges get smoothed. This may sound like something relatively easy to pull off. It isn't. It is harder. There is no place to hide here. So actually Bruce directing and writing is the other little miracle. Sami deservedly will get the total limelight but Bruce is what made Sami run.
As to Marshall he hasn't changed on musicals but he laughed a lot and was smiling as he said "THAT was entertaining!" My wife has moved even closer to liking them and grabbed a number brochures for her next Soroptomist meeting. As for me (man am I praising a LOT of what Bruce does lately!) I am retired and have to save my money. Fewer CDs, movies that only get high ratings on rotten tomatoes, I check out consumer threads, all saying I save my money for sure things. Relative to what is out there, this is a sure thing.
Running until October 4th the Grove theater Center, Burbank, California. Intimate theater, all good seats.
http://www.wtmwthemusical.com/
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Wow, thanks so much Morricone! And Sami has indeed gotten better with each performance and, as a matter of fact, tonight gave a virtually perfect performance, including one of the most hilarious unplanned bits I've ever seen - when someone's cell phone went off. If you recall, she warns what she'll do if it happens (she says she'll come out and take a photo and put it on her Wall of Shame). Well, a cell phone went off in the middle of the show and without missing a beat she went and got her phone, said, "Okay, whose phone is it? I'm coming to take your photo." And she did - and the audience was howling with laughter as she found the culprit.
Other than that, Morricone forgot to mention his own rather amusing performance. Yes, we have one bit that involves and audience member taking part in a number and Morricone was it and he was pretty damn funny.
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Posted: |
Sep 20, 2015 - 6:24 PM
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By: |
Morricone
(Member)
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Wow, thanks so much Morricone! And Sami has indeed gotten better with each performance and, as a matter of fact, tonight gave a virtually perfect performance, including one of the most hilarious unplanned bits I've ever seen - when someone's cell phone went off. If you recall, she warns what she'll do if it happens (she says she'll come out and take a photo and put it on her Wall of Shame). Well, a cell phone went off in the middle of the show and without missing a beat she went and got her phone, said, "Okay, whose phone is it? I'm coming to take your photo." And she did - and the audience was howling with laughter as she found the culprit.
Other than that, Morricone forgot to mention his own rather amusing performance. Yes, we have one bit that involves and audience member taking part in a number and Morricone was it and he was pretty damn funny.
I figured I was in the Spamalot seat.
That was the seat in all performances of that musical where someone sitting there would be brought into the show.
I also recommend this musical because of this antic atmosphere it has which logically would be a part of a 14 year old's world.
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Wow, thanks so much Morricone! And Sami has indeed gotten better with each performance and, as a matter of fact, tonight gave a virtually perfect performance, including one of the most hilarious unplanned bits I've ever seen - when someone's cell phone went off. If you recall, she warns what she'll do if it happens (she says she'll come out and take a photo and put it on her Wall of Shame). Well, a cell phone went off in the middle of the show and without missing a beat she went and got her phone, said, "Okay, whose phone is it? I'm coming to take your photo." And she did - and the audience was howling with laughter as she found the culprit.
Other than that, Morricone forgot to mention his own rather amusing performance. Yes, we have one bit that involves and audience member taking part in a number and Morricone was it and he was pretty damn funny.
I figured I was in the Spamalot seat.
That was the seat in all performances of that musical where someone sitting there would be brought into the show.
I also recommend this musical because of this antic atmosphere it has which logically would be a part of a 14 year old's world.
No one is safe - the seat changes nightly and I actually make the choice and send word backstage 
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