THE SHAGGS -- Thoughts?

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 3:51am

Has anyone ventured over to PH for 'THE SHAGGS' yet? Previews, I know, started on the 12th. Opening's scheduled for June 7th. Any and all insight appreciated.

Best,
- M

[MusicalMo]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 4:14am

Terrible writing. Terrible direction. Terrible physical production.
A couple of good actors, but with bad material what can you do? Just not good at all.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 8:40am

In a weird way "The Shaggs" reminded me of another missed opportunity this season, "The Road to Qatar." The two shows couldn't be more different in tone, but they both take fascinating true stories and can't figure out how to interestingly relate them to the audience. Whereas "The Road to Qatar" was silly, stupid and boring, "The Shaggs" makes for an angry, dark and frustrating night at the theater.

Check out their wikipedia page. These girls have quite the story to tell (in reality there were four daughters, not three), but the authors don't have the quite the right vehicle to tell it.

The three daughters almost remind me of an Edie Beale type, in that they are slightly socially awkward and shut away from the rest of the world, but they don't have any of her charms. What I see as delightful eccentricity in Beale, I simply find in the Wiggen daughters to be awkward and unlikeable. I always root for Edie, but I certainly didn't want to see these girls succeed. SPOILER**** If for the simple fact that I didn't want their dad to be able to share in there success******END SPOILER

A big problem with the piece is Peter Friedman's character. He is so unrelentingly unlikeable and Friedman is SO intense that as an audience it is hard to take. The character type makes you want to root for him if you could find some redeeming qualities about him, but they're in short supply. I don't fault the actor, but the writing. They need to do a better job making us understand where he's coming from.

My friend and I had an interesting debate the next day about the appeal of the actual Shaggs. What was their appeal? Did they actually have any talent? Why have they been such an inspiration for some (Kurt Cobain, Frank Zappa- who called them "better than the Beatles") but a mystery to others? These are the questions I would love to have had explored in possibly a straight play with samples of their music.

SPOILER*******
The only scene I thought really 100% worked was the dinner scene near the end of the play. Everything came together and I was caught off guard by how invested I became in the characters in that moment.
END SPOILER

Updated On: 5/17/11 at 08:40 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 2:02pm

My friend and I had an interesting debate the next day about the appeal of the actual Shaggs. What was their appeal? Did they actually have any talent?

Personally, I think they were pretty talent-free, but they performed anyway (arguably by force). I think they were a mostly a curious novelty. But if you listen to an actual recording of them, it's such a bizarre experience. I think that's what appealed to Zappa.

I saw the show at Lookingglass in Chicago and while the physical production and the cast were good, I was constantly at odds with the material. I found the subject intriguing, but like you said, I couldn't find anything to like in the characters, so I really didn't care if they succeeded or not. If anything, I just felt sorry for the girls having such a crappy dad, but I was never emotionally invested in anyone or anything happening.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 7:35pm

A weird but intriguing show. There are some riveting moments, some mystifying ones, and others as ludicrous as those in Carrie.

Overall, I'd say it's worth a look.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 9:06pm

Mister Matt- My knee jerk reaction is to say they're talent free too, and perhaps as far as their instrument playing goes that is correct. Their lyrics on the other hand were very interesting and evocative given their age and situation.

I heard that their father did not allow music in the house before he made them form the band and I find this an interesting component the authors left out. I'm sure they were exposed to some music growing up, but it was really like creating songs from a blank slate in a short period of time.

I now have listened to the song about wondering things and yes it is a very bizarre experience. I just wish they had dealt with their legacy more. Perhaps framed the play in some way...I don't know. I do agree it was hard to emotionally invest in these people as written.

After Eight- I assume you're referring to the act two opener as Carrie-like? I admit from my seat in the third row it was hard to stifle laughter when Friedman was howling at the moon!

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 6:19am

Whizzer,

Yes, that scene in particular.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 5/18/11 at 9:25am

Aww, I'm really sad that this isn't working out- what a fascinating premise.