“WikiMusical” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The PTC Performance Space (Closed on Saturday July 26, 2014)
Photo by Billy Bustamante
“WikiMusical” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The PTC Performance Space (Closed on Saturday July 26, 2014) Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi and Blake J. Harris Music by Trent Jeffords Directed by Richard J. Hinds Reviewed by Joseph Verlezza Theatre Reviews Limited
Perhaps the new venture entitled “WikiMusical” being presented as part of NYMF at the PTC Performance space needs to find a better venue to reach its target audience and potential. In this project’s present condition, the concept might have looked fine on the page but it does not translate very well onto the stage as an example of good musical theater. The storyline is simple, especially if you are a tech geek, but it has no substance or character delineation. Yes, it can be said it is all in fun but at times when there is an attempt to be comical, there is only gratuitous vulgarity and distasteful jokes that border on being offensive. The music is scattered, changing tempos and styles mid song with no memorable melodies and the lyrics are insipid. The choreography tries hard to keep the action moving and create some needed energy and sometimes succeeds but needs to be a bit more varied.
The cast members do their best, with some tackling several roles, but are not given enough to establish purposeful characters or situations. It is a difficult task to portray invented, cartoonish characters that cohabitate with humans in a cyber space fantasy. This somewhat modern day “Alice in Wonderland” for the computer age simply does not compare, and falls short in every aspect, appearing bland, sophomoric and lackluster. The capable cast works too hard to make the material they are given amount to no more than a very long high school skit and credit should be given to them for endurance. Possibly this might fare better on a computer screen as a virtual reality cyber musical and attract a recognizable audience.
WIKIMUSICAL
“WikiMusical” completed its run at NYMF on Saturday July 26th at 9:00 p.m. at The PTC Performance Space, 455 West 42nd Street, NYC 10036. For further information about the show and about the New York Musical Theatre Festival, visit nymf.org.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Thursday, July 24, 2014
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