Greetings, all, and Happy Saturday,
BK, I'd heard a few things about the musical you mentioned seeing last night. They even called me to replace, but I passed. It was good to hear your first hand report. I just hope they get the necessary changes in there when they can. I've been involved with many readings of new musicals, and as you point out so clearly, very few seem to get them even near right.
A recent reading I did, which was shaky at best, is now asking for re-read. And since the book writer lost her collaborator and my role was severely under-written (fine by me in this case), she's sent me the revisions and asked me for feedback on the new scenes. The tough part is, there was already so much wrong with the setup, I don't know where to start.
And, BK, it's especially true with what you said about stakes. There are none in this story. She created an immortal who is described as unpredictable and lightning tempered. Then she has him chasing a girl for over a century (hello urgency?) and making absolutely no progress without any apparent obstacle of any kind. And his song in the first act is okay for set-up, but the second act song is the very same song from the first with new lyrics, but moves him not one inch forward, emotionally or in the action. Suddenly, Batman becomes Rick Moranis (and I know that's not what she meant it to be).
Tough part is, I know I'm going to have to tell her this in some kind fashion. Calgon take me away.
And don't get me started on a casting shock I had this morning. In the words of BK - Oy and Vey and Vey and Oy.
