My overall impression
Some of these reviews have entirely missed the concept of what a tech-heavy preview night is. When the director steps on stage and spells out that what you’re about to witness is essentially a rehearsal, an audience needs to set an appropriate level of expectation (in my opinion).
I thought this was a clever and very fun musical. Understanding that there were serious sound issues (and the issue of what we saw being a condensation of what would otherwise be a 2 hour show), I personally believe this show could be a great success. The music is all fun and some of the numbers are particularly memorable. I liked “Endless Spirit” the most, and using the reprise at the end to roll out the curtain call was smart. The defeat of the Morlock king was a really fun(ny) moment too. There are several strong ideas peppered through the production.
I was most impressed at how they’re utilizing the supporting cast to tell the story with a bare-bones staging. Proof, yet again, that creativity rules the day over any budget, even with high-end concepts.
This show has great potential (and, at a rehearsal, it’s the potential an audience might benefit from paying attention to), and I will be recommending it to friends as the show finds it’s feet.
