There's a reason so many Broadway purists turn up their noses at even the slightest whiff of jukebox musicals. The productions often feel like they're just a step away from Las Vegas-style celebrity impersonation, with perfunctory plotlines that simply move the story from one well-known hit to the next. The unsightly aspects of his past are carefully hidden. Although very original, it is not. But again, three From book to film to stage adaptation (Note, Outsider, Give Water to the Elephant) Complaints about a lack of fresh thinking probably shouldn't be contained to a particular corner of the Great White Way if you're playing within a radius of about 50 feet.
What it brings us is hell's kitchen. This coming-of-age musical is loosely inspired by the teenage years of 1990s superstar Alicia Keys (who wrote all the music and lyrics, based on the story by Christopher Diaz, and directed by Michael Greif) is currently being performed following a sold-out performance. Times Square Showcase at the Schobert Theater at the Public Theater in New York City.
Although the venue has changed, the story and main cast remain the same. And even those people do not have This musical's predecessor may give you a sense of some kind of teenage angst déjà vu. Seventeen-year-old Ali (Malea Joy Moon), like many young protagonists, has to deal with an overprotective parent (in this case, Shoshana Bean as single mother Jersey) and all the excitement waiting outside her front door. (here, New York City, which is far from exciting).
Naturally, we have a boy (Chris Lee, who plays Knack). And, as you might imagine, his mother objects, judging not by his personality, but by the potential danger he poses to his daughter. (Actually, she also Really ) Moreover, no story of youth is complete without a sage-like mentor offering the youth direction on a different path. As expected, it was “PRESTO!”. — A piano appears and behind it sits Kesia Lewis' Miss Liza Jane. That's about as deep as it gets.
What makes it so noteworthy? hell's kitchenBut somehow a story that is so familiar feels so fresh. From the beginning, both the neighborhood and the stage are buzzing with energy as the characters jump around in their FUBU shirts and baggy jeans, striking jumping poses and banging buckets.of hell's kitchen ensemble is working difficult, interpreting the music through movement that feels like the busy streets outside Ali's Manhattan Plaza building. If modern, lively dancing is your thing, you'll love it, thanks to scene-stealing choreography by Camille A. Brown.
Settings too hell's kitchen Apart from many other jukebox musicals that tell the artist's life story, many of the songs in the Keys catalog were not actually performed by Ali. “Fallin'” is reinterpreted here as a delicious jazzy number that changes time signatures between Jersey and Ali's absentee father Davis (an effortlessly smooth Brandon Victor Dixon), but this more faithful version of the mega-hit It may disappoint those expecting a performance, but it at least represents a rare big swing. And Bean absolutely brings the place down with the bluesy, infuriating grandeur of “Pawn It All.” In addition to the parade of sing-along hits, the first act features her three new tracks in key, the most notable being the catchy, up-tempo head-bobber “Kaleidoscope.”
In terms of the entire cast singing, Lee plays the weary and misunderstood Knack, while Lewis takes command as the earnest Miss Liza Jane, who tells her soon-to-be student Ali: You might as well take a look. I may not be able to speak. You might as well ask.you May learn. “And Bean is an absolute powerhouse, exuding equal parts frustration and love as she sings about the daily dilemmas of raising stubborn teenagers. Her voice is a weapon, and she knows when she should fire.
Marea Joy Moon, who plays young Ali, is a star-certified star. She is a truly fascinating narrator, able to take her personal pitch to places most people can only dream of. This is a virtue that is often overlooked on stage. The actress perfectly plays the seemingly contradictory teenage combination of baseless self-confidence and super-awkward love games. Moon also has some killer comedic timing.
hell's kitchen has tweaked its second act, moved several songs, and removed “When It's All Over” since its first performance at the Public. Speaking of which, this piece also ends with an enthusiastic performance of “Empire State of Mind.” Of course it is. Like much of the musical as a whole, this movement can be heard from her piano a million pianos away, but honestly, what's so great about it is that it's a performance based on Alicia Keys's upbringing in New York City. Is there any point in ending it this way? The story may lack originality, but it's a good ending to a show that leaves you feeling good. B+
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