What I liked
Outstanding voices!!!!!!!
Malikah Pinder (Gloria) is a true powerhouse vocalist and strong actress: I just want more and more… and MORE. Her solo (one of many) “An Awful Lot of Hurt” still has me crying my soul out by how deep it hits, a combination of lyrics and her voice and presence so down to earth and relatable.
Bryan Staggers (Tom) is the much needed comedic relief of the group, and his take on both character and songs is so delightful: the desire to be better and to make a difference, clashing with his bad-boy exterior look.
Music and Lyrics are solid and meaningful: exploring different types of rock and beautiful harmonies to get the message through. “Rise Up! Rise Up!” should be a chant to be sung in the streets, a political statement to unity and community, on the same note of “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
This piece deserves a better and biggest stage, apt for a musical!!!
What I didn't like
Unfortunately a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and in this show that is the technical part of it, and it is extremely weak. 15 mics on stage and not one functioning properly from beginning to end. The 2 songs without backtrack towards the end of the show were such a delight and a much needed breath of fresh air after all the struggle to hear and understand words. Could that have been a more successful approach for the entirety of the musical?
The interaction audios (crowd applause & co.) were too loud and completely covered actors’ lines. The venue is perfect for the staging of the show, clearly dividing the 2 sections (on stage VS back stage), but the acoustic and use of tech was a factor that could not be overseen, especially for a musical piece.
On a smaller note, I found it hard to believe that any individual of such relevance in 1969 (even after the Stonewall Riots) could and would have come out of the closet that blandly and openly, without serious consideration of the consequences. Overall, the characters seemed a bit flat and stereotyped, given the small and barely audible time for their development backstage, in favor of solo songs on stage.
With some small adjustments and a longer run it has HUGE potential… We wanna see it at the Pantages next
My overall impression
An outstanding musical bringing (back) together six voices for one last night of either total success or complete breakage. Topics of sex, drugs, love, betrayal, they all intertwine in the band’s drama from beginning to end, in a concert-like format that makes you wonder if you are a mere spectator or an active fan. Sure thing you’ll find yourself stumping your feet to the rhythm of the music or even sing along with them.
