A BRONX TALE Previews

Ado Annie D'Ysquith Profile Photo
Ado Annie D'Ysquith
#75A BRONX TALE Previews
Posted: 3/22/17 at 9:06am

Having just seen the film for the first time this week, I wanted to share some thoughts and figured this was the best place to put them.

I haven't seen the musical yet, but it seems that many of the complaints here (with the exception of "the score was bland"A BRONX TALE Previews rest with the story and its structure. But, honestly, I saw those same concerns play out onscreen. For instance, Jane doesn't appear until the end of Act 1 because Jane doesn't appear until about halfway through the movie, too. So much time is devoted to Young Calogero because half the story is about his "grooming." I agree that trying to make C's friends "likable" is a misstep; the movie does not do this, and with good reason...

I think with the over-narration, they were trying to mimic C's numerous voiceovers in the film. Perhaps this would have fared better onstage if it was trimmed and also made a VO?

And as much as I enjoyed the film, I do wish it had tied up a few loose ends, such as what happens with Jane and C after

 
Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Sonny's death

and why C's mother disappears for the entire second half. Then there is the question of Lorenzo's hint of racism (when C asks him about dating a black girl) that doesn't get addressed again.

You seem to be able to get away with these things in a film medium, but the modern musical theatre scene is another matter. I'm not sure...maybe A Bronx Tale is one of "those movies" that can't be musically adapted effectively.


http://puccinischronicles.wordpress.com

RippedMan Profile Photo
RippedMan
#76A BRONX TALE Previews
Posted: 8/12/17 at 11:28pm

I saw this tonight via rush. I got there at about 4:00pm, and they were doing their curtain call - the music flowing out into the lobby - I was excited. I got front row, on the aisle. Was super stocked. 

WOW. What a bland, boring mess. There's basically no plot, and then there is a plot, and then there's not. It's awful. The songs mention "following your heart" or "heart" about a thousand times. It's all just so basic and banal. No song is memorable, no song is good. All the lyrics are awful. 

The design is really uninspired as well. I mean, is the spattered red on the walls suppose to be reminiscent of blood? And never once did I feel like I was in the Bronx. Why was the backdrop so dark? It never felt like a real place. It felt like some make believe Guys & Dolls world where some creepy guy with a big fake mustache shoots someone. 

The actors are all fine with Nick & Bobby being the best. Ariana felt weird to me. Her vocals weren't as great as I wanted them, and it all felt very forced and fake. Bobby Conte Thompson was rather winning, but I think I need to see him in something else to determine. There was something off that I couldn't quite figure out. But Nick really nailed it. His vocals were great - and I thought his big song was quite fun and memorable, even if the tone felt off for such a big, scary gangster guy. 

mc1227 Profile Photo
mc1227
#77A BRONX TALE Previews
Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:33pm

I saw this at the Papermill and didn't even think it was a good regional production, much less for Broadway.  I suppose it has an audience because it's a familiar story due to the movie.  Chazz  has certainly squeezed every drop out of this story.

Dancingthrulife:  I wish I could say that the story is dated but after the actions in Virginia these past few days, unfortunately, racism is still quite timely.  


The only review of a show that matters is your own.

RippedMan Profile Photo
RippedMan
#78A BRONX TALE Previews
Posted: 8/13/17 at 9:35pm

True. There are also a lot of gun shots which made me so uncomfortable being so close to the stage. I just didn't understand the tone of the show. There'd be realistic gunshots and then they'd be singing some doo wop song about following your heart. It was weird. And sad to think this will run longer & make money whereas great shows like GHD and Great Comet can't seem to make it. Ugh. The world we live in.