Apologies. I don't know where my Where the Wild Things Are review went. I really don't. I posted it late afternoon yesterday and...nothing. I'll get up a new one some time this week.
Onto more pressing matters.
The new musical Memphis opened on Broadway last night and I'm really torn. To help me through this conundrum, I figured I can analyze its potential in a series of pro and con points.
Pro: If nothing else, book writer Joe DiPietro is extremely thoughtful. I mean, he based All Shook Up on an amalgam of Shakespeare and 80s Rock films.
Con: Joe DiPietro wrote the book of All Shook Up. You know, that Elvis jukebox groaner that limped onto Broadway a few years ago.
Pro: David Bryan of Bon Jovi wrote the music. He also worked with Joe DiPietro on the raucous Toxic Avenger musical still running strong Off-Broadway.
Con: Lots of people hate the Toxic Avenger musical because of the book, and score, and cast, and content...
Pro: An original rock musical on Broadway not adapted from an existing play/film/novel/painting/poem/memoir or culled together from ASCAP's discount file? How novel.
Con: An original rock musical that treads on all the same ground as Hairspray and All Shook Up and countless films: popular music and Civil Rights.
Pro: Seth Rudetsky claims the show is a stunner thanks to the cast of able dancers and excellent singers.
Con: The NYTimes hates it. HATES it.
Pro: Everyone else seems to love it.
Ok. So maybe we can give the creator of All Shook Up another chance, yes?
Just check out the Word of Mouth review from Broadway.com.
I hope it lasts long enough to get a cast recording. I'm still not as sold as I probably should be. I need to hear more of the music to get a better handle on the approach of the show before putting up the money for tickets.