Odyssey

[gstrus2]

Posted: 9/4/15 at 4:24pm

Anyone going tonight?? How was the line in Central Park? If I get there tomorrow at like 10:30, should I be good for getting tickets?

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/5/15 at 1:05am

Hi,

I went tonight. I can elaborate more tomorrow if you want but I enjoyed the show. The material isn't great but Karen Olivo was fantastic, Brandon Victor Dixon sounded great, and I really enjoyed the way they integrated so many talented New Yorkers into the production. It was a Cliffnotes/family friendly/simplified version of the Odyssey with mainly kind of repetitive, folk(ish) music and some ballads. To me, the dog stole the show.

The original morning line was not too bad. I got there around 9 and was 60th in line. A few minutes before 12 there were still only 150 or so people in line. 10:30 might be a little late especially if there's good word of mouth or more people off of work on the weekend but if it was like today, I think you'd be OK. It's iffy though that late.

[NewYorkTheater]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 3:20pm

This is the last night, and I urge you to try to see it. It's terrific fun.

The Odyssey Review: Musical Homer At Home in Central Park

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 10:59pm

Man, this was one of the most joyful nights I've ever spent at a show! Oskar Eustis spoke before the show, and his enthusiasm for this work and production spilled over into the rest of the evening. Everyone just did such excellent work, from leads to ensemble members. Karen Olivo, in particular, have a terrific performance. And Todd Almond's music was lovely, especially the opening number, Circe's number, and the song about Scylla and Charbydis. 

No, it wasn't the most thrilling version of this story or the most faithful, but it was so lovingly performed and created that I dont see how anyone couldn't have gotten swept away in the excitement of what happened at the Delacorte tonight. 

Updated On: 9/8/15 at 10:59 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 9:40am

I highly disagree that the "material wasn't great." Todd Almond's music was remarkable, and it was well crafted to include the community and tell a simplified version of the story.

If you didn't enjoy it, I'm sorry to hear that, as personally the Public Works show has been a highlight of each of the last three years for me. An utter joy.

[jawjuhh]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 3:33pm

Sometimes I wonder if I have no heart.  I really didn't get much out of this.  It defnitely was nice to see so many diverse groups perform, but the show really did not work for me.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 5:23pm

You really didn't feel any joy at seeing a stage full of people of all stripes having the time of their lives?

[jawjuhh]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 7:21pm

There were some moments I really liked, like with the hip hop group and the drummers. But I spent a lot of time wondering why they included 3 biker groups, and no Asians. It was a little disenheartening to have this introduced as "representing  NYC" and lacking that huge group of people.  

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 8:21pm

I saw the show and had a blast. Agree that Eustis' passion for creating new art and his eye for drawing great work out of creatives is remarkable. 

This show has A LOT of potential. Not sure if Todd Almond or anyone else aboard the team are interested in developing it further, but this felt like a first draft with A LOT of potential to me. Todd Almond's music is fantastic, and a pop/folk/rock musical about the Odyssey could be super commercial especially if they went the puppet/mask/julie taymor route a la the scene with the giant cyclops eye. Also... having a sassy and fabulous gay narrator was super fun and added an unexpected energy to the over all piece. I hope this is not the last incarnation of the show. I'm a big Almond fan now, after IOWA and this, and his work with Sherie Rene Scott... I'm very eager to see his upcoming musical with Courtney Love.  

Karen Olivo hit it out of the ballpark giving a freaking fantastic performance reminiscent of Chita in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. Every time I see her perform she gets better and better and better. She might be the greatest young diva out there!!!! 

I think I loved it!

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 9:41pm

What you refer to as the "sassy and fabulous gay narrator" is the role that Almond has played in all 3 Public Works productions thus far. 

This actually isn't a first draft, as this show was previously done at the Old Globe.

http://theoldglobe.org/odyssey/index.aspx

It was actually the most polished of the three DeBessonet/Almond shows as well, in my opinion.

Glad you enjoyed it though. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 10:39pm

"I highly disagree that the "material wasn't great." Todd Almond's music was remarkable, and it was well crafted to include the community and tell a simplified version of the story.

If you didn't enjoy it, I'm sorry to hear that, as personally the Public Works show has been a highlight of each of the last three years for me. An utter joy."

 

It's just my opinion. I didn't say this was a horrible train wreck and an affront to my refined tastes in theatre. I just thought it wasn't great... as in not up there with the great musicals. I did really enjoy the show. I thought it was a lot of fun. But for example, I thought Circe's song was very weak and meandered though Karen Olivo sold it well. Also, some of the songs ran a little long (notably Odysseus' song about going home at the end) and I think the pacing and thus the driving force was off to accommodate the inclusion of a lot of different performers. I think developing it further (i.e. for Broadway) would likely mean cutting all of the things that made it so special (the marching band, the orchestra, the choirs, the dancers, etc.) Honestly, I forgot most of the music as I left the theatre. I wish there had been more for people who know the Odyssey as most people in the audience seemed to.

 

As for the lack of Asians, there was at least one Asian woman in the chorus. I remember because she played to my side of the theatre.

 

I'm not sure how you got "sassy and fabulous gay narrator" but I thought he was very charming in the role.

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 9/9/15 at 8:38am

Thanks neon! I missed the last two

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/9/15 at 9:10am

VintageSnarker, I'm pretty sure you missed the entire point of Public Works if what you're concerned about is the specific dramatic structure of the show.