November 05, 2006

Bad Broadway: The Times They Are A-Bafflin'

"The Times They Are A-Changin'," Bob Dylan's first foray onto the Great White Way has been universally panned with reviewers touting the talent involved in the show, but thrashing the product. Sure, "jukebox musicals" are a weird new phenomenon that generally entertain if not necessarily satisfy, but sitting in a mezzanine seat at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre the overwhelming feeling is "How did this happen?"

How did the classic "Like a Rolling Stone" become a soundtrack for physioballs flying back and forth across a stage? Who signed off on a budget that allows three separate circus signs to come down in succession, nevermind the massive crescent moon that's in all the ads? How did this show ever make it past out-of-town try-outs? How can such technically marvelous dancers be so sadly misused?

This last question points to one of the few highlights of the show. Twyla Tharp is a legendary choreographer for a reason. Her dancers fly through the air, physically perfect specimens doing physically incredible things. They bring humor to their movements and easily connect with the audience. But was it her idea or Dylan's to set his song book to a fantasy traveling circus?

Dylan fans who have always craved to hear every word of every song properly enunciated - do they exist? - are also in for a treat. An evil circus owner Captain Ahrab (Thom Sesma), his heart-of-gold son Coyote (Michael Arden), and the beautiful runaway Cleo (Lisa Brescia) put in spot-on performances. That the singing sounds more like "American Idol" than Dylan is an unfortunate result. In all fairness, that seems to be the way Broadway is going these days – all technique, little soul.

Tharp helped legitimize the "jukebox musical" with her well-received Movin' Out . Bob Dylan has spent most of his formidable career letting his songs speak beautifully for him. More recently, he came up with the idea for this production, he did the arrangements and he worked closely with Tharp. Up there in the mezzanine, my theater companion had a hard time stifling her giggles, while I was clutching her arm in disbelief. Dylan and Tharp are masters of their respective forms. The Times They Are A-Changin' could have been incredible; unfortunately, it was just incredibly bad.

-- Alexandra Farkas

Earlier: Critics positively hate 'Times They Are A-Changin''
'Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me' a comedic feast

November 5, 2006 10:51 PM in Broadway

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