I realized I never posted my reviews of In Transit and Bronx Tale on Broadway so here it goes:
IN TRANSIT
Official Blurb: A new musical about that time in your life when your career is a work in progress, your love life makes you hate life, and your friends are your family. IN TRANSIT, a funny and poignant new Broadway musical, follows the intertwined lives of 11 New Yorkers faced with the challenges of city life. With a groundbreaking a cappella score by a team including the creators of Pitch Perfect and Frozen, IN TRANSIT takes you on a journey with people hoping to catch the express train to their dreams—including the stops they make along the way. Modern yet timeless, IN TRANSIT is a story about all of us, set to music that will stay with you long after the ride is over. With a book, music and lyrics by Academy Award® winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth and vocal arrangements by Deke Sharon (Pitch Perfect, “The Sing-Off”), IN TRANSIT is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award® winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It).
My Take: I love a capella and just for the concept of it being an acapella show I knew I needed to go see it.
What did I like: There are great voices, and some powerful signing that fills the room even if its only acapella. There is a a cute story that is very relatable to those who have to live theitr lives comuting in the beautiful world that is the subway. There are also great jokes and a great time is had by all. I am also a fan of no intermissions, i think it should be a trend to follow you stay in the mood and story for longer.
Its not the most amazing show, but it wil lbe a fun night out and make you wonder about the person sitting next to you in the subway the next day 😉
Show score: 70
A BRONX TALE
Official Blurb: Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now classic film, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score, this is a tale about respect, loyalty, love and above all else: family.
A Bronx Tale is directed by two-time Academy Award® winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, written by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri, with songs by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken and three-time Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater, choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo, and produced by music mogul Tommy Mottola, the Dodgers (Jersey Boys, Matilda) and Tribeca Productions.
My Take: Last show of the theater weekend marathon was A Bronx Tale. Sadly we started on a really high note but didn’t end quite as well, this should have been my first show of the weekend not the last because comparison kills it. It just doesn’t live up to the other gems on stage this season. It’s A good enough musical it just didn’t have a spark.
What is good: A sweet (yet too quickly finished) story, beautiful sets and some great performers like Hudson Loverro, who has little kid charm for blocks; Nick Cordero as Sonny is super solid in a stereotypical mafia kind of way.
What didn’t totally work for me: the music of Alan Menken sadly disappoints and he is not at his usual melodic mastery here. There are some cute tunes, but none that I left humming after the show or would make me want to get a cast album.
In conclusion: It’s OK it’s just not great. I would say go see it only if like me you’ve seen everything else and want a night out or you are from the Bronx/Italian American and this will be a nostalgia piece.
showscore: 60
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