A Stoop on Orchard Street (Musical)
Dec 1st, 2003 | 06:54 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
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This muscial is sort of part of the Tenement Museum on the lower east side (http://www.tenement.org/prog_spectheat.html) My son's 4th grade class will probably be seeing it sometime this winter - it's been running since July. The reviews I've read ar kind - it is supposed to be charming, if a bit obvious .. .
Dec 1st, 2003 | 07:37 AM
#3
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Yes I saw it in October. It's a clever sort of idea and it follows a couple of the stories you'll hear at the Tenement Museum. There are some rather touching moments.
But -- don't expect too much. It was very amateur in performance values. The narrator was simply awful, reminding me of someone who had never acted before -- but I think he's actually the writer or backer or something like that so that sort of explains it. While there are a couple of good voices, the direction and overall acting is simply very, very weak. And the musical numbers just don't have any zip. The book is simply awful, leaving gaps and lack of any motivation for much of anything that happens. Frankly I'd put many community theatre productions and even lots of high school productions above it quality wise.
The good thing is it's cheap (with discounted tickets) so you're not out much. If you have nothing better to do one evening it would be fine. Again, just don't expect typical Broadway or off-Broadway quality.
But -- don't expect too much. It was very amateur in performance values. The narrator was simply awful, reminding me of someone who had never acted before -- but I think he's actually the writer or backer or something like that so that sort of explains it. While there are a couple of good voices, the direction and overall acting is simply very, very weak. And the musical numbers just don't have any zip. The book is simply awful, leaving gaps and lack of any motivation for much of anything that happens. Frankly I'd put many community theatre productions and even lots of high school productions above it quality wise.
The good thing is it's cheap (with discounted tickets) so you're not out much. If you have nothing better to do one evening it would be fine. Again, just don't expect typical Broadway or off-Broadway quality.
Dec 1st, 2003 | 02:18 PM
#4
Original Poster
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Thanks for the information, Patrick. Think we'll pass on this one - too many good productions to waste our time and money on one that isn't really good. Did you enjoy the Tenement Museum? We are thinking about getting a reservation for one of the tours. Do you recommend one tour over another?
Dec 1st, 2003 | 07:14 PM
#6
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We enjoyed the "museum" very much. The way I understood it, you have little choice about which tour you take. They alternate which tour it is, each one focusing on different families or periods. But we did talk with someone on our tour who had done a previous one who felt one was enough -- they were quite similar.
