Has anyone seen Bright Lights, Big City?

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 5:36pm

How was it? I wish I could have seen it.

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 5:43pm

I saw a production of it over the summer in Philadelphia. The cast was absolutely phenomenal, and I really enjoyed it.

Jeremy Kushnier was a fabulous Jamie. I walked into the theatre having seen him once in Rent and not being overly impressed, and walked out a very big fan. Very talented guy.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:44pm

I saw it in Philly as well. I LOVE the music, absolutely one of my favorite scores ever. The book and show as a whole? Needs a lot of work. It has barely any dialogue and barely works as a 'rock' opera.

But I love it nonetheless!

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:57pm

I love the music too. I think it has some of the best music for any show. I heard rumors of it possibly coming to Broadway some day. Anyone heard of this?

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:04pm

I think, on the whole, the production this summer was good with some great moments. I agree with sundaymorning6am (clearly, you're a BLBC fan...) who said "it has barely any dialogue and barely works as a 'rock' opera." What you hear on the cd is pretty much all you get... and it could be fleshed out a little more, tying in some themes, expanding on some others, etc.

The set didn't do it for me. It seemed to be a little juvenile. Kind of going along the same line, sometimes the production would seem very professional, and at other times it would seem very juvenile, a la high-school-production. My friend and I both got that feel, which could've been one of several reasons or any mix. The theater (Prince Music Theatre) is not one of the most professional, though not knocking it to say that it's productions aren't professional. The cast, though some were quite professional - Jeremy Kushnier, Andy Karl and Orfeh - also had some very youngish students from UArts and elsewhere... quite the spectrum of ability. Maybe it was just the material, not sure. I'd have to see it again or see other productions to really know.

As a really interesting FYI, another Goodman production is being produced soon at the same theatre, the Prince Music Theatre, in Philly - called Tiny Dancer. It looks interesting.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:06pm

I highly doubt that. The book is a mess, and as much as I love Mr. Goodman, he hasn't been able to re-write it yet, so I don't think without outside help that it will get done.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:07pm

I see the awful recording sitting on my shelf all the time.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:02am

I saw the original production with Patrick Wilson. I had mixed feelings about the show. I did find the music to be pretty cool and there were some really great moments. The woman playing his model/wife could not sing in tune - AT ALL. Patrick was impressive, but it is hard to root for such a self-destructive character. We also still had the composer-as-narrator device which was just bizarre. Glad they fazed him out. The new CD actually makes me feel for some of the characters. Of course we don't have to watch them snorting cocaine and falling apart on a CD, nor do we have to watch the post-attack Irish Mary skulking around the stage. Glad I saw it, but it needed work.

[avab802]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:51am

I saw the NYTW production starring Patrick Wilson as well. I liked it a lot at the time, but mostly in a so-bad-it's-good way. It did have some great performances (Patrick and the woman who played his mother, in particular) and touching moments, but it also had a lot of cheesy/weird moments. The "Coma Baby" song, "I Hate the French," and the whole scene at Odeon come to mind. The recording is ok, not but not great. I wish they'd recorded the NYTW cast.

[&OneForMahler]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:56am

I never saw it... but I actually like the recording. Not my favorite, but still.
"Are You Still Holding My Hand?" is such a beautiful song.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 10:08am

I've never seen it, but I have the recording.

Scott and Ebersole are the only redeeming qualities of that awful score.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 1:55pm

Yeah I saw it in Philly and generally I think the show's not the best in the world. It came off as a Rent wanna be for people in their 30's. The characters weren't really fleshed out as much as they could. Jamie, the lead character was just whining a lot to me. I wouldn't pay money to see it again. Having said all that there were terrific performances in the piece but that doesn't speak to the piece itself.

[daredevil]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 2:46pm

Like a few other posters, I saw the original at NYTW. Basically I am in agreement with them: the show had some beautiful moments, and I thought the cast was very talented. Beside Patrick Wilson, the women had the most to do, and I thought they were all very strong---each one really defined her role (or roles). But ultimately the show did not stand out. Why? Too diffuse, perhaps, or a hero without a major conflict. One interesting thing: This was Michael Grief's first NY production since Rent, and you would have thought that he would have gone for a different style, but instead, the whole thing was staged totally similar to Rent. An attractive cast moving in and out of roles on a functional stage, even one actor a little older then the rest playing the older roles (Ken Marx instead of Timothy Parker) and black woman with a strong voice to back things up. I would enjoy seeing it again, getting reaquainted with the music, but I don't see it as a major piece.

[stagegrrrl]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 2:54pm

unfortunately yes.
i saw it at NYTW.
the boy i was dating at the time loved, loved, loved the show and brought me to see it because he was such a fan.
i broke up with him shortly thereafter.
it was that bad.

[ruprecht]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:43pm

I saw it in Philly more times than I'd care to admit. It had an incredible cast (much better than the concept album imho) but it needed a real story and book to go with the songs. There are tons of threads on this very topic so searching will bring you more answers than you probably even want.

[RentHead2]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:51pm

I drove three hours to see this one in Philly, loved it and for me intro'd me to the wonderful world of ORFEA who completely blew me away and luckily I got first row seats (spitting distance).

The only reason I saw this one is because I bought the cast album because I BUY EVERYTHING involving Sherie Renee Scott, and well loved the cd as well.

[fishergirl819]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 10:01pm

I believe you mean Orfeh, who played Clara in the Philly production (and did a fabulous job).

[bigbigbill]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 9:11pm

I love the recording. The first couple of songs are a lot of fun to sing along to, as are many of the other songs.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 9:26pm

i'm seeing a workshop of it in Boston in March. i love the CD so i can't wait!

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:18am

i can't believe they re-wrote it again...

[BDrischBDemented]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 3:31am

Out of curiousity, where is this workshop being held? And can I get tickets?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 11:46am

it's being held at Harvard. they announced it on Playbill last night. i dunno if tickets are still available yet or not

[folkyboy]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 10:00am

JBSinger said: nor do we have to watch the post-attack Irish Mary skulking around the stage

OK SO THAT'S WHAT THAT IS! hahahaha

last night at the workship i was hoping to figure out who who the fcuk Mary O'Brien McCann was and was left lost as i ever was. maybe i should read the book and it'll all make more sense.

in the Philly production, btw, did they have a typewriter on stage? this reading didn't and i felt that majorly lacked what the show needed to move it along.

well, that, and a lot more of a book :)

[April Saul]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 10:35am

You are so lucky to have missed it! It is hard to believe that anyone enjoyed it in Philly, where I saw it. It was an absolute mess, and pretty much annoying in every way. Not the actors' fault at all--I like Orfeh, seriously!--but a bad book, and truly was one of the worst shows I 've seen in the last few years, ranking with Festen and Little Women on the very bottom of my list....

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 3/6/07 at 12:15pm

I got a chance to see it in Philadelphia and adored the cast! They were fantastic.
The story might not be much, but the songs are good.

I really enjoyed it. Sorry you didn't April Saul...
I also really liked Little Women and Company. So that gives you a range of my tastes.
Updated On: 3/6/07 at 12:15 PM