Avett Brothers’ SWEPT AWAY at Berkeley Rep - Previews & Reviews- Page 2

[schubox]

Posted: 1/23/22 at 1:01am

Not sure I can add much more than what others have said but I thought this was pretty great. The cast was phenomenal, I wish the ensemble had been around a little longer because they were all terrific as well. The set was fantastic as others have said. Really blew me away.

Agree with the criticism that because it’s a jukebox musical that the songs don’t always fit completely. But the songs are great and performed well. Also agree the characters could probably be fleshed out a little more, but my wife and I both really really enjoyed it. 

[schubox]

Posted: 1/23/22 at 6:27pm

Anyone know of a song list? I know there’s a Spotify playlist but it seems to be missing a couple 

[ggersten]

Posted: 1/23/22 at 8:33pm

Since this does not appear to have any connection to the Wertmuller film (or the remake), are the audiences confused at the start? Are there mumbling during the show or after about the show not being what someone expected?

[schubox]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:13am

ggersten said: "Since this does not appear to have any connection to the Wertmuller film (or the remake), are the audiences confused at the start? Are there mumbling during the show or after about the show not being what someone expected?"

I feel like a lot of people know what it is going in, saw a woman with a Avett Brothers custom made denim jacket in the lobby before. 
 

Some members might not. There was an older company behind me who I heard say they had no idea what it was or what to expect. 

[mxfish1313]

Posted: 1/25/22 at 2:19am

schubox said: "saw a woman with a Avett Brothers custom made denim jacket”

Is that what that was?? I was sat directly behind her and could only see the top quarter or so of the back of it and spent no small amount of time trying to figure out what I was looking at, haha. 

I really enjoyed the show, but can agree with some of the other reviews. I was actually really impressed with Enscoe - surprising to me only because I was specifically there to finally see Sands and Gallagher in action, yet Enscoe really stood out to me. I loved the set and the way the ensemble were used, especially during their climactic scene. The ensemble were still masked on 1/22, but they should be nearing the time when they can remove them. 
 

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was a lot of talent on that stage and I think that’s what saves the somewhat weak book. I drove twelve+ hours that day to and from Berkeley and I loved it enough to feel like the trip was worth it. 

I’d love to see it again, though it’s probably not in the cards with its relatively short run. Maybe if it heads to off-Broadway!

[sorano916]

Posted: 1/25/22 at 12:03pm

schubox said: "Anyone know of a song list? I know there’s a Spotify playlist but it seems to be missing a couple"

Their Instagram posted the song list.

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 1/27/22 at 4:28pm

Saw this last night. Enjoyed it. It was refreshing to see a new piece of theater, with a new story and characters. I felt that every aspect of this show is giving 110% with the exception of the book. The book drags the show down immensely. The performances, the direction and the design were all top notch. I just wish there was a book to match. The jukebox nature of the music didn't bother me (with the exception of the placement of Devil's In my Head), but there needs to be a strong story to support the songs if the songs are not going to further plot. I did not feel that support was there. If they can re-work the book quite a bit, I think this would be a great show to transfer to an Off-Broadway space. If it was to come to Broadway, I feel a show like this would only work in the Circle in the Square. Side note - the audience was sparse last night, but speaking to a friend in the cast, there seemed to be a handful of producers/investors there. So there may be a life after Berkeley? We shall see..

[yyys]

Posted: 1/27/22 at 9:03pm

The Avett Brothers' music is mediocre.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/29/22 at 1:59pm

Talkin' Broadway reviews ''Swept Away'': ''Glorious and heartwrenching''

 https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/regional/sanfran/s2073.html

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/29/22 at 2:02pm

San Francisco Chronicle review:

When waters get choppy, Berkeley Rep's 'Swept Away' rights itself

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/theater/review-when-waters-get-choppy-berkeley-reps-swept-away-rights-itself

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 1/29/22 at 2:06pm

BroadwayWorld.com reviews 'Swept Away': ''Brilliant'' and ''mesmerizing''

https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/BWW-Review-SWEPT-AWAY-at-Berkeley-Rep-20220128

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 2/20/22 at 5:22pm

John Gallagher, Jr., a Tony winner for ''Spring Awakening,'' and Stark Sands, a two-time Tony nominee for ''Kinky Boots'' and ''Journey's End,'' dish about ''Swept Away,'' their new maritime musical at Berkeley Rep. The two actor-friends chat about working with director Michael Mayer again, and bookwriter John Logan, as well as their love of the Avett brothers' music. Plus, they express how this show has deepened their gratitude for doing live theater again.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay/VIDEO-John-Gallagher-Jr-Stark-Sands-Talk-SWEPT-AWAY-on-Backstage-with-Richard-Ridge-20220215

[bear88]

Posted: 3/1/22 at 4:31am

I finally saw Swept Away on Sunday. It's a very well-performed show that is owned by John Gallagher Jr. as the mate. As other people have noted, it's a musical that is dominated by archetypes, so much so that no one - except for "Little Brother"'s sweetheart - is given a name. The title is bit of a giveaway, and the show's theme is what men might do to survive in horrible circumstances - and what it costs them.

I'm not familiar with the Avett Brothers, who have had a successful career as folk-rock artists, so I didn't know any of the songs going in. My wife in particular liked the melodies, and there is some impressive scenic design work done by Rachel Hauck. (My audience didn't give the mid-show big event an ovation.)

There is one overwhelming problem, and a second related one. First, the book by John Logan seems to strive for an epic quality, a sad story passed along through the generations. It's based on true events. But it is both too specific and too generic. I never particularly cared about any of the characters, despite the actors' best efforts. One character, the captain (played by Wayne Duvall), might as well not be there. It is not Duvall's fault; he just has little to do. The story revolves around the cynical mate played by Gallagher and two brothers - the younger one (Adrian Blake Enscoe) seeking adventure before he settles down, maybe, for a life with the aforementioned sweetheart, and his devoted older brother (Stark Sands) who chases after him and ends up on the ill-fated voyage.

Due to the structure of the story, the audience knows the basics of what will happen within the first few minutes. This removes most of the drama from the proceedings, and what's left are thinly-drawn characters who we are not given enough reason to care about. Logan devotes most of his energy to filling in the story of the younger brother played by Enscoe, but his motivations aren't terribly interesting. Enscoe does a good job with what he's got, and has a fine voice. Sands is stranded with a character who spends most of the musical reacting. He's devoted to his brother and he's religious, and that's pretty much it. Gallagher, as the putative villain and driving force of the action, is left to carry the proceedings by himself. But there just isn't enough for him to carry. He nonetheless does a terrific job what what he's given, and most of the show's memorable moments and songs belong to him.

It's not a sung-through musical, though the dialogue is largely perfunctory. That left the songs to carry character and story development, and they rarely do that. I found myself thinking afterward of Stephen Sondheim's maxim that the songs in a musical must advance the story or an understanding of the character. The songs often just exist on their own, prettily or compellingly sung. Too often, I felt like Logan and director Michael Mayer were trying to shoehorn a jukebox musical into a serious story even though it is based on an Avett Brothers' concept album.

All that said, the show - which I know had plenty of empty seats in early January due to Omicron (I was one of the people who pushed back the day I saw it by nearly two months) - was packed on a Sunday night.

As I prefer masks in such tight quarters, I was struck when the employee checking my vaccine record thanked us for not causing problems with mask wearing. (I said I was all in favor.)  

Updated On: 3/1/22 at 04:31 AM

[cryan71]

Posted: 3/1/22 at 5:10pm

I made a Spotify playlist 

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DcMhjuuis40rLoOnETIpQ?si=2e4e4b7eab8e468e

[cryan71]

Posted: 3/1/22 at 5:10pm

I made a Spotify playlist 

 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4DcMhjuuis40rLoOnETIpQ?si=2e4e4b7eab8e468e