OKAY, I SAW BOUNCE!

#0OKAY, I SAW BOUNCE!
Posted: 6/23/03 at 1:01pm

I saw the Sunday evening preview of BOUNCE and deliberated about posting, but what the hey.

This show WILL be good. There are a lot of problems in Act 1. It covers the Mizners whole life up until they go to Florida and feels episodic and is rather long. Act 2 is more successful, but its main focus is the Florida years, so it flows more smoothly. There is a balance missing.

The music runs the gambit from truly brilliant Sondheim to almost self-parody. There are some really breathtaking numbers with that distinctive Sondheim sound that will become classics. (Even if they are cut before the B'way opening they will make it into some future review, I am sure.)

But as an example of the worst, unfortunately, it is the title song. With the JUNE/MOON/SPOON rhymes and a tune that rips off Perelli's "To shave-a –da-face" segment of SWEENEY (Not to mention the clumsy and trite choreography that accompanies it) the show got off to a shaky start. But it got much better.

I am sure after a long and stressful week the cast was ready for a cocktail and a day off. That said, I was very impressed with Richard Kind. He has that soulful sweet quality that ingratiates the audience to him. His comic timing is impeccable and singing is quite strong. Michele Pawk commands the stage and delivers one of the best performances I have seen in a while. She has that been- around- the- block thing down pat and is a joy to watch. She was in excellent form, both acting and singing.

Gavin Creel is lovely as the young artist and has a wonderful solo, but his character is so underwritten in Act 1 that by the time he appears in Act 2, I thought for a while that he was playing a different character.

Everyone else in the cast needs a good rest. Howard McGillin seemed bored. He is in fair voice, but he doesn't really connect with the show emotionally. His and Pawks characters are supposed to have this very volatile relationship, but, quite frankly, there is more chemistry between Pawk's and Kind's characters--and they don't have much stage time together until the second act.

Which brings me to Jane Powell as Mama Mizner. I do not know if she was having vocal problems last night or if that is how she normally sounds. Let me just say that if it is the latter, some of the best music in the show is being murdered. I hope she gets better. She is really adorable, perhaps too much so. But it is good to see her again, and she looks and moves GREAT.

My problem with the book stems from the fact that, as written, the brothers are somewhat expecting to fail. The title BOUNCE, has to me a negative connotation. As in, when this fails, we will just do something else. The former title, GOLD, is more positive in the sense we WILL strike gold! No question. There needs to be a positive through line. Right now it is pretty defeatist and self-loathing.

Physically the show is interesting. I hope if/when it moves to B'way they will spend a bit more on the sets. The concept works right now but looks rather cheap.

And to all who complained that Sondheim has never written a gay character, (Bobby notwithstanding. Another thread.) you may now shut your traps!

All in all it is a show worthy of a long life and I am sure it will get one.

broadwayguy2
#1re: OKAY, I SAW BOUNCE!
Posted: 6/23/03 at 1:13pm

"Gavin Creel is lovely as the young artist and has a wonderful solo, but his character is so underwritten in Act 1 that by the time he appears in Act 2, I thought for a while that he was playing a different character."

that is a crime Stevey-boy must fix. Take full advantage of Gavin! The boy has a lot to offer.

#2re: re: OKAY, I SAW BOUNCE!
Posted: 6/23/03 at 7:02pm

Now I have been humming the title song in my head all day. So maybe I was wrong about that. It always takes a while for a SS score to sink in. But I still feel the show needs a stronger opening.

Max Bialystock Profile Photo
Max Bialystock
#3But the important question is....(see other Bounce thread)
Posted: 6/23/03 at 7:50pm

But the important question is....(see other Bounce thread)

did'a you, buy'a da BEACH BALL?


Lyrics of the title song:
"You hit a few bumps,
You make a few gaffes,
You learn how to bounce.
You take a few lumps,
You have a few laughs,
And all the while you bounce.
Don't dwell on the times that you fail,
Remember the times
When you sail.
Find a new road,
Forge a new trail -
Bounce."
--- from BOUNCE

I almost totally agree with you about BOUNCE - saw it Friday night (see other, much more verbose, thread).

I never thought of the Addison charcater playing off Nellie/Eleanor as being more believable than her playing off Wilson...but you are right!

I thought the sets were okay....and given the GOODMAN budget -- they are cutting performances per show like mad next season -- more than adequate; but for Eugene Lee caliber, you might be right!

The Perrilli from SWEENEY steal is dead right; and I just remembered about the three, or so, dead bodies shoved into the headboard (I am not kidding here at all...); Mrs. Lovett at the Waldorf. Yes, they actually have the bodies disappear into the Marriage Bed Headboard!

But don't forget....it's a vaudeville... (see links to Sunday's Chicago Tribune yet another thread on here - 3 articles on BOUNCE and Steve and Hal and all!)




Fondly, as ever, Max

BrdwyThtr Profile Photo
BrdwyThtr
#4re: But the important question is....(see other Bounce thread)
Posted: 6/23/03 at 7:54pm

I'm looking forward to hearing more on this show!

BillyLawlor Profile Photo
BillyLawlor
#5re: re: But the important question is....(see other Bounce thread)
Posted: 6/23/03 at 9:02pm

I'm glad to hear that this show is coming along well. There's lots of great people in this one. I'm glad it will be great when it comes to Broadway.

#6re: re: re: But the important question is....(see other Bounce thread)
Posted: 6/23/03 at 10:38pm

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention the bodies through the headboard technique. I would have been humming SWEENEY if this number had not been so fun to watch. As for the Vaudeville aspect…GO FURTHER WITH IT!