The Tap Dance Kid at Encores- Page 2

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:02pm

Jesse Green is right on the money. Joshua Henry is indeed sensational, but it makes no sense to give him that moment at the end of the show after having zero character development for the previous 2 hours.

It's a pretty boring musical, and Kenny Leon's inability to direct a musical really weighs it down. Everything needs a jolt of energy, and it made me wish that more of the book was cut. Encores proudly lists 10 people in creative leadership or advisory capacity now, yet nobody had the authority to tell Kenny to speed this thing up???

The cast also leaves much to be desired. Trevor Jackson (as Uncle Dipsey) never gives us the impression that this guy is a STAR. He is way too subtle, and his great dancing doesn't make up for it. Alexander Bello is merely a proficient tapper. Shahadi Wright Joseph sounds great but cannot act. (Or maybe she can, and was simply not well directed here.) I feel bad criticizing kids, but when the show relies on them so heavily, it's hard to make the show work without them.

The band sounds HOT, the choreography is great, and there are a few nice songs. But there's way too much other crap surrounding it.

I feel like I heard rumblings a few years ago that Savion Glover was attached to play the uncle and choreograph a new revival of it with a revised script (blanking on who was doing the rewrite). That might have been much better.

[clever2]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:02pm

Bill Snibson said: "I was told by someone who saw it that basically “fat” is changed to “loud” because she’s stubborn and vocal but again thats from a friend who saw it. Someone else might be able to give more specifics."

In the real version, Emma sings about being “not pretty, “too loud,” and “pretty fat” in a duet with her mother called “Like Him,” during which she admits being terrified her father doesn’t love her. 

[clever2]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:03pm

Bill Snibson said: "I was told by someone who saw it that basically “fat” is changed to “loud” because she’s stubborn and vocal but again thats from a friend who saw it. Someone else might be able to give more specifics."

In the real version, Emma sings about being “not pretty, “too loud,” and “pretty fat” in a duet with her mother called “Like Him,” during which she admits being terrified her father doesn’t love her. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:09pm

Jesse Green is right on the money. Joshua Henry is indeed sensational, but it makes no sense to give him that moment at the end of the show after having zero character development for the previous 2 hours.

It's a pretty boring musical, and Kenny Leon's inability to direct a musical really weighs it down. Everything needs a jolt of energy, and it made me wish that more of the book was cut. Encores proudly lists 10 people in creative leadership or advisory capacity now, yet nobody had the authority to tell Kenny to speed this thing up???

The cast also leaves much to be desired. Trevor Jackson (as Uncle Dipsey) never gives us the impression that this guy is a STAR. He is way too subtle, and his great dancing doesn't make up for it. Alexander Bello is merely a proficient tapper. Shahadi Wright Joseph sounds great but cannot act. (Or maybe she can, and was simply not well directed here.) I feel bad criticizing kids, but when the show relies on them so heavily, it's hard to make the show work without them.

The band sounds HOT, the choreography is great, and there are a few nice songs. But there's way too much other crap surrounding it.

I feel like I heard rumblings a few years ago that Savion Glover was attached to play the uncle and choreograph a new revival of it with a revised script (blanking on who was doing the rewrite). That might have been much better.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:12pm

New era at ENCORES - TAP DANCE KID

Posted by: NewtonUK 07:18 am EST 02/03/22

The post Viertel era began inauspiciously last night with a rather uninspired and uninspiring performance of a rather dreadful musical, THE TAP DANCE KID. For those who like to stand up and scream when someone sings very loudly and on pitch, Josh Henry is waiting for you around 945pm. TDK may not have the worst book of any musical, but based in the version on display last night, it is a candidate. The music by Henry Krieger (DREAMGIRLS/SIDE SHOW) is nothing to write home about - though you do hear whispers of those two shows as Krieger's tool kit is not vast. Kenny Leon, won of our best directors, seems a bit stumped by TDK. Maybe to try to spare us, the book scenes are spoken very softly, and very slowly, as if some profound things are being said (they never are). The result is laughable at points - a very quiet dialogue scene between two women, and then WHAM, they are singing a power duet, with no prep. With the exception of the 'ghost of the grandfather' the choreography and dancing on display is nothing special either. The talented ensemble work their butts off, but the choreography seems recycled from number to number. If the two leads are not mind-boggling tappers - the one thing this show has going for it has gone to waste. Neither lead is a mind boggling tapper, at least on the evidence of TDK. I have to confess I was angry depressed, and bewildered when the performance ended just past 10pm. On balance, one of teh 5 worst ENCORES I have ever seen.

This was posted on All That Chat…

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:14pm

Well now I’m excited for it. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:26pm

Jordan Catalano said: "What’s the run time on this?"

Two hours and 35 to 40 minutes.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/3/22 at 11:30pm

SmoothLover said: "On balance, one of teh 5 worst ENCORES I have ever seen."

Eh, this is no worse than some of the other recent productions. If the gold standards of the past 10 years at Encores are Grand Hotel, Most Happy Fella, Superman, and Gents Prefer Blondes, this is certainly in the lower tier, but it's at least more engaging than High Button Shoes (which was badly miscast –– and a poor man's Music Man), Lady Be Good, and Call Me Madam.

Because of the tight schedule, ENCORES kind of has to work as a machine, and there are some directors and performers who simply are not up to the task of doing a show in 11 rehearsal days. But even with a better director and cast, this would never be a great show because the underlying material just isn't there.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/4/22 at 12:12am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "SmoothLover said: "On balance, one of teh 5 worst ENCORES I have ever seen."

Eh, this is no worse than some of the other recent productions. If the gold standards of the past 10 years at Encores are Grand Hotel, Most Happy Fella, Superman, and Gents Prefer Blondes, this is certainly in the lower tier, but it's at least more engaging than High Button Shoes (which was badly miscast –– and a poor man's Music Man), Lady Be Good, and Call Me Madam.

Because of the tight schedule, ENCORES kind of has to work as a machine, and there are some directors and performers who simply are not up to the task of doing a show in 11 rehearsal days. But even with a better director and cast, this would never be agreatshow because the underlying material just isn't there."

Just to clarify,  I was sharing a comment I read on All That Chat. It was not my comment. I agree with all of your assessments  A good director would have ironed out some wrinkles but the book would have continued to weigh it down. And yes, other Encore productions have been harder to sit through some feeling longer than Gone With The Wind.

[EdwardOkduduMari]

Posted: 2/4/22 at 6:42am

Nominated for seven Tony Awards (including Best Musical), The Tap Dance Kid tells the story of Willie, a 10-year-old boy from an upper-middle-class Black family, who dreams of becoming a professional tap dancer, despite his father’s disapproval.

The production includes Tracee Beazer as Carole, Alexander Bello as Willie, DeWitt Fleming Jr. as Daddy Bates, Joshua Henry as William, Trevor Jackson as Uncle Dipsey, Shahadi Wright Joseph as Emma, Chance Smith as Winslow, and Adrienne Walker as Ginnie.

Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) leads this revival, bringing a fresh take to the production with new tap sequences by choreographer Jared Grimes (After Midnight) to hits such as “Fabulous Feet” and a concert adaptation by Lydia Diamond (Stick Fly). The production features music direction by Broadway’s Joseph Joubert (Motown the Musical).

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/4/22 at 9:37am

SmoothLover, thank you for posting at ATC review. "For those who like to stand up and scream when someone sings very loudly and on pitch, Josh Henry is waiting for you around 945pm." could easily be one of the best pull-quotes of all time. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 2/5/22 at 12:47am

I was unsure about going to this, especially after the reviews came out, but the promise of Joshua Henry was too irresistible so I went tonight and surprisingly enjoyed myself.  I'd agree with pretty much everyone that it's nothing to write home about, but it kept my attention despite how trite it was (I was afraid I'd be falling asleep since I wasn't super well-rested, but that wasn't a concern at all during the show).  The production numbers and Josh Henry's big song are definitely the highlights and the characters are sweet albeit bland, but I did find myself tearing up a bit at the end (family reconciliation drama always gets to me).

I'm not sure if it's the fault of the book or direction (maybe both?) but I felt that the musical numbers seem to come out of nowhere.  A lot of the song moments don't necessarily seem worth of a song and I'd agree that the lyrics are fairly basic and essentially say the same thing over and over. Either way, I'm glad I went, and it was well worth the ticket price.

Also, for those that are familiar with the original show, is Winslow's part always that small?  It seems a waste to hire a second kid just for two short scenes where there's no music at all (though maybe the kids alternated on Broadway?)

[jwsel]

Posted: 2/5/22 at 2:25am

chrishuyen said: "Also, for those that are familiar with the original show, is Winslow's part always that small? It seems a waste to hire a second kid just for two short scenes where there's no music at all (though maybe the kids alternated on Broadway?)"

I don't recall that role, but I am pretty sue they did not alternate roles in the original production.  Alfonso Ribeiro played Willie on Broadway, and was replace by Savion Glover.  Dule Hill played the role on tour (the production I saw).

[Kimbo]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 9:55am

chrishuyen said: "I'm not sure if it's the fault of the book or direction (maybe both?) but I felt that the musical numbers seem to come out of nowhere. A lot of the song moments don't necessarily seem worth of a song and I'd agree that the lyrics are fairly basic and essentially say the same thing over and over."

This gets at the crux of the matter and whatever the limitations of the material, points to the largest problem with the production (and it’s been said elsewhere):  the musical numbers are choreographed (and excellently) like the 1980s/1950s-style musical comedy that the show used to be, but the book scenes are paced, directed and delivered like a stately naturalistic kitchen-sink family drama.  To be even more specific, and it’s not a generalization, for whatever reason the songs are belted (as they should be) while for whatever reason the dialogue is almost whispered.  
 

This in part is why Henry’s number played so well with the audience- he realized he was the antagonist, set the tone (and size) of his characterization at the appropriate pitch early on, so even though his number is the one song that seemingly comes out of nowhere on the page, it was the only one that actually felt earned in the performing of it, and thus gave the audience what they’d been desperate for all evening.  

Other than that the night consisted of mother & daughter speaking quietly around the dinner table, or Dipsey and his girlfriend talking softly next to a telephone, when the orchestra would play a loud intro and the performers would suddenly need to lurch themselves into “Dreamgirls”-style singing. Then, on several occasions, if the song didn’t end the scene, they’d go back to whispering again as if the number never should have happened.  It was one of the more baffling approaches to a musical I’ve ever seen, and (surprisingly for Kenny Leon, even given his lack of experience with musicals) made it seem as if someone, or even a whole lot of people, just didn’t know what they were doing. Kudos again to Jared Grimes, whose choreography injected the show with what energy it had, and who to my mind came off as the hero of the evening.

Updated On: 2/7/22 at 09:55 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 10:06am

It was so bad. How did this thing run for almost two years originally? I echo almost everything that review above said but will add that that song Henry sings is just…weird. It goes on WAY too long and at one point I was like “Ok already, I get it let’s wrap this song up”. He’s so wonderful but this book and this score apparently made him and lots of others up there forget how to act.

As for the tapping, I thought he grandfather was very good but the kid was….fine? It’s be like watching Billy Elliot and him just being an “alright” dancer. 

I dunno. Of all the shows out there we want to see and have been begging Encores for years to do they decide on this. Not a good sign. 
 

[toetapper2]

Posted: 2/7/22 at 1:30pm

The last Encores production before the covid shutdown was Mack & Mable which had a problematic book but a wonderful score. So after waiting for two years this is the production the new artistic team chose to kick off with. THIS?? What on earth made them choose a show with a mediocre book and an equally unremarkable score? I thought a large part of selecting the Encores productions was to rediscover and appreciate the scores from lost or forgotten musicals.

Lear deBessonet, the new artistic director, refers to The Tap Dance Kid as "a hidden gem". By the looks of this production I don't think she'd be able to recognize the Hope Diamond from a lump of coal.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:24am

I am expecting better things from The Life. I am sure it will be better directed by Mr. Porter.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 8:08am

Even flawed Encores productions (DuBarry Was a Lady, Kismet, Band Wagon, 70 Girls 70, House of Flowers) have their merits, and this one was no exception. What concerns me is this incredibly stupid statement from Lear deBessonet, the new artistic director: "Almost zero shows before the 21st century have a worldview and politics that sit well with a contemporary viewer." So much for Shakespeare, I guess!

 

She also says that "Encores had been this gorgeous archeological site that had been perfectly excavated." HAD been? So now it's time for...what? Rewriting shows like The Life? That didn't work out so well for The Band Wagon, did it? And did we ever really need a Millie rewrite?

 

I would argue that there are LOTS of fun shows still to "excavate." And the Encores audience is sophisticated enough that any non-PC lyrics or book scenes in the shows do NOT need to be rewritten to suit any delicate sensibilities.

[clever2]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 5:17pm

Look, they made Emma skinny. THEY MADE EMMA SKINNY. 

That’s all that is necessary to know about what Encores is. 

Updated On: 2/15/22 at 05:17 PM

[DaveyG]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 5:50pm

The original Tap Dance Kid was one of the first shows I saw on Broadway so I am quite fond of it, despite its flaws. I agree with most everyone here and say that Encores really messed this one up. Making Emma skinny was disastrous. Casting soft spoken tv actors really made for a boring evening of slow, quiet dialogue in between numbers. Only Joshua Henry knew how to command the stage and he was sensational.

The post-Saturday matinee talkback got a bit contentious with an audience member who made some very good points in his questions and comments about the performance - however, no one from the creative team was present so the actors did their best to deflect it all and the audience turned on the questioner - who to be fair, was very antagonistic in his delivery.  It was all pretty uncomfortable. But I don’t disagree with anything the young man said. 

Ms. deBessonet’s tenure is off to a rocky start.

Updated On: 2/9/22 at 05:50 PM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 2/15/22 at 10:33pm

When does The Life start rehearsal?

Updated On: 2/15/22 at 10:33 PM

[AntV]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 12:18am

DaveyG said: "Ms. deBessonet’s tenure is off to a rocky start."

I have never liked anything she directed. Such as her work at the public and the delacorte. I found it all to be basic, bland and quite frankly amateurish too eager to please the audience without any sort of subtlety or style, like it's a school play. I'm not excited to see anything she directs. Anyone else feel the same?

[goldenboy]

Posted: 2/16/22 at 5:42pm

i saw the original on  Broadway. I don't remember much about it except that there was tap dancing in it --and the two tap dancing leads rocked.  I also remember that this transferred from either a showcase or an off Broadway version and the entire showcase/o cast got their Equity Cards. I remember people saying at the time it was the homeliest chorus on Broadway.  Other than that largely forgettable. Don't know why they picked this musical to put up when threre are so many better choices.

 

Golden Boy, Golden Rainbow, Destry, Henry Sweet Henry, How Now Dow Jones to name a few.