RISE- Page 5
RISE
Wayman_Wong
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#101RISE
Posted: 5/16/18 at 10:51pm
Possibly more damaging to ''Rise'' (than straightwashing its lead character) was saddling Josh Radnor with such a self-centered jerk like Lou. The critic at Vox.com called him ''the world's most annoying drama teacher.'' Presumably, Lou's dramatic arc (over 10 episodes) was gonna be how he realizes that, and early reviewers, who had seen most, if not all, of the series hinted at that. But ''Rise'' ends as it began: Lou, narcissistic as always. At the beginning, he took over the drama department, even though the kids were already cast and rehearsing ''Grease,'' and decided to change the school show to ''Spring Awakening.'' And why? Lou was bored, facing some midlife crisis, so he ran roughshod over Miss Wolfe, oblivious to her love for her kids, and accused her of being a suckup and hack director. Lou, and only Lou, always was so judgmental and knew what was best for everyone else.
And at the end, Lou, fed up with making revisions and cuts to ''Spring Awakening,'' petulantly decided to restore the original text only an hour before the curtain, with little regard to the real ramifications to everyone else. He didn't want his kids to go away, thinking he had compromised his principles. So the original show goes on, much to the delight of his students and parents, but it's a hollow and Pyrrhic victory. Lou fully expects to get fired, but the outcome is worse: The superintendent needs to appease the angry conservative parents, so he's cancelling the drama department next year, and tonight's performance is the final one.
Throughout it all, Miss Wolfe (beautifully played by Rosie Perez) has been the rare model of integrity. Even though she lost her job to Lou, she stayed on because of her devotion to the kids. She supported Lou and helped him work within the system, until Lou insulted her for one last time. She told him off, and said she would not attend the show, at least not opening night. Then, ''Rise'' stripped away Miss Wolfe's dignity and made her give in, and reunite with Lou, so they could hug it out, and all was forgiven.
''Rise'' had many problems, but the seeds of its failure were sown when it chose to make Lou its focus. He really made you miss and long for the charismatic and good-hearted Mr. Schue from ''Glee.'' And the irony is: ''Rise'' had such a charismatic and good-hearted character: Miss Wolfe. She should've been the real hero, fighting off an arrogant colleague who didn't know what he was doing, and never shows any growth, even at the end. She was the true heart of the show, and only through her, did it ''Rise'' to the occasion.
BroadwayMan5
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/15
#102RISE
Posted: 5/16/18 at 11:44pm
This show was well intentioned, but it was a mess. If you haven't read the book, don't let this show turn you off from doing so. It is a great read and inspiring story. But here, Josh Radnor was so unlikable and the teacher in the book was so amazing. If a show like Friday Night Lights, beautifully crafted and with a football themed plot had trouble finding an audience, it's not surprising that Rise, poorly crafted with a theatre plot, wasn't going to work. I'm disappointed because Friday Night Lights and Parenthood are so good and there was a story here, just not told well.
Wayman_Wong
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
brdway411
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
BroadwayAndSports
Stand-by Joined: 12/8/17
brdway411
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/14
#107RISE
Posted: 5/18/18 at 12:56am
BroadwayAndSports said: "Actually while the real life story was in Levittown, the show took place outside of Pittsburgh. That's why they emphasized the dead steel industry."
They could have set it in Bristol Pa, the next town over. They had a dead steal industry too.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
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