Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope and a plea to Bruce Kimmel

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/2/16 at 10:19pm

I caught Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope at Mufti tonight and it is easily the best thing they've put on in years. I don't know if I've ever given a standing ovation for a Mufti before, but I couldn't help but to spring out of my seat at the end. Even more exciting was the fact that Micki Grant was in the audience and received a nice round of applause before the show. 

 

Grant sure knew how to write a catchy tune and I'm still bopping to several of them. Good Vibrations and Fighting for Pharoah were exciting and damn near show-stopping. The latter unfortunately still has an all too poignant message and was a nice way to be sent back out into the world. It was uplifting without being corny or treacly. 

 

The standouts in the cast were Tina Fabrique, Marva Hicks (1/3 of the Radio!!) and Doug Eskew who just nailed every song he sang. 

 

I can't believe this was nominated for Best Musical, Score and Book, ran over 1000 performances and yet the OBCR is not available on CD. Bruce, I know you just gave us Eubie (thank you!), but can you please, please get this remastered and released too? 

 

Congrats to the York for putting this on. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/2/16 at 10:24pm

How does this material come across 40 years later? Is it still relevant or does it feel like a museum piece? Could it ever be given a full-scale revival?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/2/16 at 10:50pm

I don't think it could handle a full-scale Broadway revival, but it could definitely attempt an off-Broadway engagement somewhere that is more fleshed out than this concert presentation. 

 

There were some lines that felt a little dated, but I assume with Grant's supervision there were a few updates references to Ferguson, etc. The sad thing is that it remains all too relevant today. It would be nice to be able to view this as a museum piece of the 70's where this thing called racism existed, but we all see that the same problems are alive and well today. What's may be more dated than the content is the format of the revue which doesn't seem to have much place in today's theater. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 3/2/16 at 10:55pm

I actually just discovered the excellent OBC album recently. It's a great score, though frankly I'm shocked it was a Broadway show. It sounds much more Off-Broadway.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/2/16 at 11:15pm

Saw the original although I do not remember the theater. Had the LP that I burned to a CD. This might do quite well at NWS

 

She also did Your Arms To Short To Box With God, Its Nice To Be Civilized . She also contributed to Working. I actually saw all 3.

Updated On: 3/3/16 at 11:15 PM

[Carlos Danger]

Posted: 3/3/16 at 3:59pm

The show premiered at The Playhouse Theater and then transferred to The Edison Theater where it remained until it closed. 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/3/16 at 4:18pm

What did you think of the shows, Mr Roxy? Did you see Don't Bother Me when Grant was still in the cast? 

[Carlos Danger]

Posted: 3/3/16 at 4:57pm

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 3/3/16 at 6:25pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/3/16 at 6:49pm

I enjoyed all of her shows. The music in Cope was great but I have to admit I have not listened to a majority of my cast albums in quite sometime