The BARE Cast/Creative Team held a special event for National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, which included a special performance of "Role of a Lifetime"
Ready for the kicker? The song is now sung by "Jason" in the show. Still haven't totally wrapped my head around that one, but my open mind about this production is slowly starting to close...
I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean, having it sung by Peter just kept his role so heartbreaking, but when it's sung by Jason I feel like it's finally giving some insight into his troubles earlier into the show. Thoughts?
Of the changes, this is the one I am least upset about. I think the lyric changes allow the song to giving a greater emotional connection to Jason. I'm trying to remember if Jason gets a song all to himself in the other version.
I understand Jason singing this song, but given its placement in the original (after "You and I"), I really liked how the song served as Peter's opportunity to recognize the act he's playing, while at the same time coming to the realization that the secret can't go on forever.
Now that Jason's singing it, I'm nervous that the rumors I heard about Peter already being out of the closet are true, which completely changes the core message of the show: Peter receives validation and love through the church aiding his acceptance of himself, while Jason receives judgment and scorn setting in motion a tragic end.
bwtoday, that's a great point. I don't really mind the fact changes are being made--the show has a messy and sometimes embarassing book (and I say that with much love), but my issue is the changes I've heard about sound like things that didn't need changing.
I agree that the changes being made don't sound like they needed to be implemented- some of them feel to me they were made just for the sake of changing the show. Though I know some change was necessary, I just can't wrap my head around why they would make the kids sophomores and take away that feeling of finality that came with senior year.
The new lyrics to "Role of a Lifetime" are awful. The tense shifts between first and second person don't make sense and muddle the meaning of the song. For example, he now accuses Peter of filling his life with sound. But wait... that's what he does. Peter is comfortable in his sexuality and knows who he is, Jason is the confused one. This is just an example of another change that for this show that doesn't work and is ruining it. I had such hopes for a BARE to return to NY, I'll be surprised if this show that's loosely inspired by BARE and not BARE at all even survives previews.