Well Christian and Julia have already said about all there is to say about Newline's production of "The Nervous Set" that we saw on Friday night. It was AWFUL.
I wanted to write an entry on it anyway, since my page's subtitle says I will comment on theatre. And because I see more movies than theatre productions, I shouldn't pass up the opportunity to blog on one. I will just try to make my analysis of this atrocity a little more in depth than C and J did. But not much, since there isn't much to say.
Pretty much everything about the show was bad. Although, neither the set nor the costumes offended me. That's a plus. The show had its share of bad singers, including the female lead. Ouch on the ears. Julia says the directing was bad, but since that's one area in theatre I never took a class on, I will make no verdict. I CAN say, however, that it was a very poorly written show. Again, as Julia said, the songs were almost more of a distraction than something that added to the play. The lyrics were blase, but not nearly as much as the music itself. There was nothing gripping about the melodies and the songs did nothing to move the plot along. Although, there really wasn't much plot TO move along. I know that sounds evil, but it is just true.
It was mish mash that was supposed to show us something of the 1950's beatnik lifestyle, but an interesting slice of history does not a story tell. The writers simply failed.
The bad part of all of this, other than the wasted $20, is that this is the theatre group that I am auditioning for tonight. Still, they have been my favorite group in town for years. Everything I have seen them do prior to this has been damn near excellent, so I refuse to write them off for one poorly chosen show. Afterall, you can only do so much with a bad musical. And that's my two cents folks.
Posted by kristen at March 15, 2004 10:33 AM | TrackBackNice review! I think you've inspired me to write a more formal one as well.
You're right to question what it means when I say a show is "badly directed". As a director is responsible for EVERYTHING on the stage, it's very vague and unhelpful to just say that he didn't do a good job.
Posted by: julia at March 15, 2004 11:19 AMHalf the interesting things I said about the show came from you! I will happily direct people to your formal review if you do one. Afterall, you are the theatre critic. Truly though, you should write real reviews for everything you see. It's good practice and it is technically published. Maybe you should also try to contact local mags like I am for my Javi review. They wouldn't have to be big ones and you wouldn't have to actually sell it, but you would have clips! Hm- good idea. The rest of your time in St. Louis wouldn't be wasted if you could get some reviews published.
Posted by: Kristen at March 15, 2004 11:24 AMI agree with Kristen, Ju, you should write something up... it would be good practice.
Posted by: Suzanne at March 15, 2004 02:18 PM