Post by joem on Apr 15, 2017 19:02:08 GMT
I went to this expecting to see a straight play about the First World War and ended up seeing a musical about the end of the Second World War. My bad, or so I thought. But to be fair on me the Bridewell's website clearly states the action takes place at the end of September 1918 whilst the action actually happens in May 1945. Looks like someone needs to revise their history.
This is actually a revival of a pretty bizarre seventies musical by Peter Link and Jacob Brackman. The story is based on a young US private who's had an uneventful war having a chance to be a hero on the last day of the war by saving the inmates of a lunatic asylum in French village from being blown up by the Germans. It is a fairly contrived story and is little more than a backdrop for the musical numbers.
When I was growing up I sort of divided in my mind the type of musicals I liked from those I didn't like. I always used as an example of musicals I didn't like stuff like where a guy is shaving and then starts to sing. This one starts with a guy shaving and singing, which wasn't a good omen for me.
Some of the numbers are not bad and the ensemble singing is good, stronger than than the solos. I wouldn't call it a disaster but the raw material is, well, bizarre. Not really sure why anyone would think this ould work. Gender-blind casting for those of you interested.
Not relevant to the production BUT a distinct whiff of dead meat kept coming into the auditorium at odd intervals.
This is actually a revival of a pretty bizarre seventies musical by Peter Link and Jacob Brackman. The story is based on a young US private who's had an uneventful war having a chance to be a hero on the last day of the war by saving the inmates of a lunatic asylum in French village from being blown up by the Germans. It is a fairly contrived story and is little more than a backdrop for the musical numbers.
When I was growing up I sort of divided in my mind the type of musicals I liked from those I didn't like. I always used as an example of musicals I didn't like stuff like where a guy is shaving and then starts to sing. This one starts with a guy shaving and singing, which wasn't a good omen for me.
Some of the numbers are not bad and the ensemble singing is good, stronger than than the solos. I wouldn't call it a disaster but the raw material is, well, bizarre. Not really sure why anyone would think this ould work. Gender-blind casting for those of you interested.
Not relevant to the production BUT a distinct whiff of dead meat kept coming into the auditorium at odd intervals.