A Bronx Tale Tour

[ellbellthomps]

I saw the tour recently, and I loved it!

I barely heard anything regarding this show, and am very active in the theatre community so I was shocked at how good it was!

Don't get me wrong, not a very well written show. At all. But, I did walk out humming 3 different melodies, which was 3 more than I was expecting. It was very enjoyable, and entertaining. 

The only *major* critque I have other than above is that (spoiler) Jane and Calergo are dating, and then the last scene we hear "She wasn't my great one," with no other explanation. It was really unsatisfying, and I wish they at least explained it.

If this is coming to your town, go! The set is pretty decent and equal to the videos of seen of it on broadway, and the cast (especially Richard H. Blake) was amazing!

[NYC Cheapo]

I'm with you on the music.  My daughter really liked it.  I thought the first half was better than the second.

[antonijan]

Can't wait for the this. Watched the movie to prep myself.

[ggersten]

Just saw this in Denver.  I thought the first act was ....not good. We didn't have Richard Blake - his understudy was on.  I hate to pick on child actors - but whomever we had as young C (I think it was the "at some performances" youngster) had the flattest, nonemotional and quickest line readings I've seen in a professional production in some time.  I really couldn't wait for him to leave the stage.    

I like the second act better - even though the second act goes in so many different directions.   

I had high hopes - as I liked the OBCR for the most part.  But, the show was just meh - and a little less than meh.  My daughter thought is was the weakest professional production she'd seen in quite a while.  The show is very forgettable as there was just nothing that stood out to me in the performances and staging, even though supposedly 11 of the tour cast were in the Broadway cast, at some point.  .    .    

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Anyone else notice the pretty-bad set anachronism mentioned in this review?

http://www.startribune.com/infectious-60s-soundtrack-can-t-save-broadway-s-a-bronx-tale-in-minneapolis/506161452/

[MarkBearSF]

I can echo the recommendations. I saw it (multiple times) in SF. I had been aware of it, but it had never made my priority when in NY. When it was announced with the season, I put it in the "didn't see it already and hope it's worth a subscription seat" with minimal expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. Is it a great musical? Nah. But I had a great time. And it's a great, first class tour.

As a further mark of recommendation, I'm a part time usher at the theatre where it was running. I didn't get bored of seeing it. And most importantly, the audience came out loving the show (many of whom didn't know what to expect). Always an extra pleasure working a show where people are surprised and happy.

[Miles2Go2]

It’s playing here (OKC) next week. I’ve entered contest to win free VIP tickets. If I win, I’ll go. Otherwise, probably not. I just bought a ticket to see Falsettos when I’m in Sacramento next month. And I think I’m going to see Waitress again when it’s here later next month.

[Miles2Go2]

Saw this Friday night. I went in with low expectations. I actually used a $20 Off discount code to score one of the cheapest seats in the house - I sat front row center balcony for $$38 including all fees. It’s not selling well here in Oklahoma City. They usually have 400 - 500 unsold seats for each performance. It started Tuesday and ends Sunday.

Look, it is far from a perfect show, but I can see why it played well with the bridge and tunnel crowd. It certainly worked its imperfect charms on me. Its biggest asset is its sentimentality even if that comes at the expense of soft peddling issues of race, including one character’s use of the n-word, which is easily forgiven. Listen, my dad died 6 years ago. He never stepped into New York City, but he was coming of age around the era this show is set in (he was born in 1937 so would’ve been 16 in 1953). I stagedoored (I was the only one) after the show and as I told one cast member (I was choked up so much I could barely get out the words and even then only with quite a bit of effort - hard to speak when your throat is closing up as you’re fighting the urge to cry) it was like I had my dad back for two hours. My dad would’ve liked this show.

In a nutshell, while far from perfect, this show exceeded my low expectations.

Before the show, i bought the magnet (it’s becoming a tradition for me to buy a magnet from every show I see). Afterwards, I bought the mug and the program. I almost bought the hoodie because it says Bronx across the front but the $65 price tag helped me refrain.

Tomorrow I’m seeing Girlfriend as a regional premiere of this musical inspired by 90’s alt-rock artist Matthew Sweet. Then Wednesday in Sacramento I’m seeing the touring production of Falsettos.

[MrsSallyAdams]

I saw the tour and quickly realized I was not the target audience for this show. I found myself laughing at the show more than I was laughing with it. I thought the father and son were foolish and the gangsters loathsome. But the show doesn't want you to think that. It wants you to feel sentimental about the father/son relationship and see the tender side of Sonny. You're supposed to shed a conflicted tear at the end rather than sneer good riddance.

The cast is strong. Brianna-Marie Bell is a stand out as the thankless ingenue in a love story that should really have been cut. The show wants to explore masculinity, and shoves most of the women to the sidelines, so why waste our time with the West Side Story retread? Score wise the one to stick in my ear was Sonny's ballad "One of the great ones." The rest kept reminding me of other songs from other shows.

If you're the type who thinks all this "how to be a man" stuff is toxic nonsense then this isn't the show for you... but it may give you an interesting glimpse into the audiences who've kept this show running.

[ggersten]

MrsSallyAdams - Mr. Palmienterri says the show isn't for you! He's kind of defensive about people criticizing the show, because it's "his story". 

I was in L.A. not too long ago and this guy recognized me. “Chazz Palminteri,” he said, “I am surprised you are not inside. There’s a conference on Italian-Americans in cinema inside.” So I went in and I was standing there in the back. And the guy, on cue, I swear, says the next movie we are going to talk about is “A Bronx Tale.” He talked about how everyone loved the movie, then this pompous professor on the panel says, “I hated it. I thought it was stereotypical. It glamorized the mafia. It’s disrespectful of Italian-Americans.” The professor was ranting.I told the guy, absolutely, I understand your point and it is your right to not like the movie. It’s all subjective. But I also said this is not a gangster movie, it’s about family and it’s my story. I’m sorry, professor, you can hate it, but to be honest with you, you just didn’t get it. And I walked right out." 

Palminteri: Pfft to Those Who Don't Like A Bronx Tale