Ambitious yet clichéd, Inaudible, Strangely compelling
See it if Patience & ears allow enduring a well-acted yet poorly sung by non-singers inaudible-at-10-feet production with potential &interesting score
Don't see it if Plot matters: game non-singers in over their heads keeping up with a complicated score results in an incomprehensible storyline and ending.
Casting House of the Setting Sun with decent actors that can't really sing in a production that is all singing is unfair to all concerned—composers, actors &material, making it difficult to really judge the evening fairly.
With a strong premise & visuals, it’s decently directed, but inaudible actors—a pervasive issue these days—caused much of the plot & action to be incomprehensible, notably the ending.
The uneven score, understandable with 5 composers, ranges from lovely, textured chamber melodies to Broadway bombast & clichés, the lyrics following the same curve. Orchestrations were lush though scored only for violin & piano.
Light cues need to be realized, songs cut & costumes to at least try to get near 1927—the young couple looked as if they just got off the Hamptons jitney.
Still, the project has something, & real commercial possibilities. Although this production unfortunately can’t really be recommended, it’ll be interesting to see how this show develops. It definitely should.
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