A review by bennought
Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner

3.0

This is the first Kushner I've read, and I was a little disappointed. As I'm sure (and my housemates have reassured me) this is probably in large part due to the fact that I am reading a musical. A show is completely and utterly different when you take it from the page and onto the stage: even more so when it is a musical which relies upon music so heavily. I really enjoyed the idea of the play, the issues it highlights and explores, and the arc of the story. I absolutely loved the Channukah scene and the Yiddish, Hebrew, and bits of Jewish culture and religion highlighted in that and sprinkled throughout the rest of the play. My disappointment spread, mostly, from a feeling like there wasn't enough. It felt truncated and half-finished to me. Was that purposefully done by Kushner? Is he pointing out that these issues haven't been resolved and that there are millions of Carolines still struggling, suffering, and giving up? I'm not sure. But I'd really like to see the show performed and try and get a better grasp of it and feel for it.