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talithabellaa's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
catdad77a45's review
3.0
2.5, rounded up. This provides an almost textbook example of how NOT to turn a songwriter's tunes into a musical. The most successful ones incorporate the songs in surprising and yet logical fashion, in ways that either further the plot and/or illuminate character (see 'Mamma Mia'). And the songs have to be a natural fit for the story. I must admit I am not a huge fan of Mr. Dylan - I know the more iconic numbers ('Blowing in the Wind', 'Mr. Tambourine Man', etc.), but full 90% of the songs here I'd never heard before. However, his lyrics are at once elusive, impressionistic, and yet very precise in their use of language - and they can't just be shoehorned willy-nilly into any situation. Here, when the lyrics contradict the storyline - or make absolutely no sense, McPherson will just have someone sing them while other action is going on, for underscoring. Or else, the action stops altogether and the ensemble sings two or three songs joined together that have NOTHING to do with what is otherwise happening onstage.
I have been a fan of Mr. McPherson's earlier Irish plays, but he seems an odd choice to try to write an original story around Dylan's songs. He appears to have no knowledge of, nor affinity for, Depression-era Minnesota (a tip of the hat to Dylan's home state) ... and his boarding house characters seem recycled O'Neill-ian clichés. He also has an even more bizarre notion about the racial dynamics of the time - and neglects to mention that a pivotal character is even black until page 40!! (Of course, in production this would be obvious - but give your reading audience a clue!).
I read this in conjunction with listening to the very fine CD from the original production, which McPherson himself directed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKzRDKHLMWE&list=PLBu8_tIxjRw9C2bx1V6yXOyK0vTfK6hAp&index=1), and I suggest anyone who hasn't seen the production do the same - taken by themselves, the songs are nicely sung and arranged (albeit someone seems to think Minnesota is part of Appalachia!) ... they just are an uneasy fit with Mr. McPherson's melodrama. The show got mostly negative reviews in the UK and most probably will never be seen again. I rounded up to three stars on the strength of Shirley Henderson's incandescent renderings of 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'Forever Young', the discovery of which is worth the extra 1/2 star.
I have been a fan of Mr. McPherson's earlier Irish plays, but he seems an odd choice to try to write an original story around Dylan's songs. He appears to have no knowledge of, nor affinity for, Depression-era Minnesota (a tip of the hat to Dylan's home state) ... and his boarding house characters seem recycled O'Neill-ian clichés. He also has an even more bizarre notion about the racial dynamics of the time - and neglects to mention that a pivotal character is even black until page 40!! (Of course, in production this would be obvious - but give your reading audience a clue!).
I read this in conjunction with listening to the very fine CD from the original production, which McPherson himself directed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKzRDKHLMWE&list=PLBu8_tIxjRw9C2bx1V6yXOyK0vTfK6hAp&index=1), and I suggest anyone who hasn't seen the production do the same - taken by themselves, the songs are nicely sung and arranged (albeit someone seems to think Minnesota is part of Appalachia!) ... they just are an uneasy fit with Mr. McPherson's melodrama. The show got mostly negative reviews in the UK and most probably will never be seen again. I rounded up to three stars on the strength of Shirley Henderson's incandescent renderings of 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'Forever Young', the discovery of which is worth the extra 1/2 star.
unhabit's review
2.0
I read the play because I had been introduced to the songs from the musical by a friend and didn't have the opportunity to see it live. If, like me, you're simply curious about what happens in between the songs, go ahead, it's a very fast read.
If, however, you're curious about the play itself, I would suggest that listening to the song adaptations might be a better use of your time.
This is the kind of play that thinks it's a study of humanity and misery and is actually in fact, rather boring. I'm well aware reading a play is not the best way to experience it, but all the characters feel like parodies that are made to interact with each other to try and achieve the most possible misery in one place, while enduring it in such a passive way that you can't really feel any sadness for any of them.
If, however, you're curious about the play itself, I would suggest that listening to the song adaptations might be a better use of your time.
This is the kind of play that thinks it's a study of humanity and misery and is actually in fact, rather boring. I'm well aware reading a play is not the best way to experience it, but all the characters feel like parodies that are made to interact with each other to try and achieve the most possible misery in one place, while enduring it in such a passive way that you can't really feel any sadness for any of them.
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