Passing Strange: Revisit and Broadcast News

Over the weekend, I revisited a whole bunch of shows, including A Catered Affair, Passing Strange, Adding Machine, and Boeing-Boeing. See my Catered re-review below, and watch for my Boeing-Boeing and Adding Machine reappraisals later in the week.

As for Passing Strange, my initial enthusiasm for the show has been waning somewhat as I listen to the cast recording. (Read my first review here.) The music doesn't seem quite as compelling upon further investigation, and I find myself increasingly irritated by the over reliance on assonance (rhyming "sex" with "cigarettes") and poor scansion in the lyrics (e.g. "un-DER your wing," "far lon-GER than you," etc.).

But since I had plenty of available show slots during this trip, I figured I'd take the show in again to see how it would hold up. Plus, it was one of only five shows with matinées on July 4th, and none of the others really struck my fancy.

Even with the limited competition, Passing Strange still wasn't able to attract a full house. In fact, the show played to just 37% capacity last week. So the show's probably not long for this world; I wouldn't be surprised if we heard about a closing notice sometime soon, perhaps this week.

Which is probably for the best, because Stew and Heidi Rodewald look like they're ready to pack it in. Stew seemed to be phoning it in, although frankly he didn't really seem all that demonstrative the first time either. The crowd energy was low; there were far fewer downtown alternativo types in attendance, and not that many African Americans either. The audience seemed mainly to comprise middle-class vacationers who got their tickets at TKTS and weren't really sure what to expect. The couple next to me left at intermission.

But the supporting cast was really on, perhaps because they're trained actors, not rock musicians. Colman Domingo and Chad Goodridge were particularly sharp. The dynamic Daniel Breaker was out for this performance, but understudy Lawrence Stallings was very animated and capable.

Even so, Passing Strange remains a bold work, one that challenges Broadway conventions and demonstrates new ways of approaching the form. For those of you who won't be able to catch the show before its imminent demise, Playbill.com reports that director Spike Lee will be filming the show for a TV broadcast on a cable channel TBD. Lee will reportedly record three performances later this month, two of which will have a live audience, and then edit the three together.

For a while there, it looked as though Passing Strange might turn out to be another Hair: a safe way for the middle class to experience the counter culture all within the relative safety of Times Square and the familiar Belasco proscenium. Even though Passing Strange doesn't seem to be catching on, the show's score is more mainstream than those of most Broadway shows. Ever since Hair debuted, people have been talking about how Broadway needed to stay relevant by reflecting changing tastes in music. Forty years later, it's finally starting to occur in earnest.

Comments

[Esther]

Yeah, I saw that Passing Strange was only at 37 percent. That's pretty sad. As much as I like Rent and Spring Awakening, I wish some of that audience had given it a chance.

Some things just mystify me when I look at those figures. Like, how could Grease be playing to more people than Gypsy? You've got three incredible performances in Gypsy. It should be over 100 percent. The tourists should be flocking to it!

Thanks for the shoutout to Chad Goodridge. I thought he was great. Colman Domingo seems to get more attention, but I thought Goodridge was hilarious in his varied roles, especially as the stoned punk-rock drummer.

Like I've said before, I'm glad I saw Passing Strange, because I really enjoy seeing a lot of different kinds of shows. I liked it alot, I loved Daniel Breaker, but it didn't quite capture my heart the way In the Heights did. I respected and admired it more than I fell in love with it.

But still, I think it's great that this season we've had two musicals with African-American and Latino composers telling their own stories.

[chris caggiano]

Esther, I've given up trying to second guess the ticket-buying public. As I've said before, it's a really good thing I'm not a broadway producer, because I'll be damned if I can figure out what people are going to pay good money to see. I never would have invested in Jersey Boys, and I would have thought there was an audience for High Fidelity. I never would gave given the green light to either the Grease or the Gypsy revival, and don't get me started on South Pacific.

All I can do is see the shows and say what I think and hope that someone gets something semi-meaningful from what I have to say.

BTW, I had brunch with SarahB and Jimmy Moon, and we were all commenting on how we love reading your blog and getting a fresh (i.e. non-jaded) perspective on things. We're all so glad to have you on board as a fellow blogger.

Regards,

Chris

[Esther]

Awww, thanks Chris! I honestly don't feel any of you are jaded. Just the opposite - it's your enthusiasm and love for the theatre that comes through in your writing, and makes me want to see more shows. If only I could get to New York as often as you do. Sigh. Maybe someday.

[winer]

i enjoyed reading about your second viewing of passing strange. i saw it in early may and it was sold out (or so it seemed) and i would have predicted a long run. i guess i'm kind of sad that it didn't take off. i loved it. for me it sought the common denominators between rock and roll, musical theater, and something approaching poetic storytelling. i wonder if it's a show that can ever be reproduced or revived or if it really depends on the performance of its creators. as for the cast, i loved chad goodridge. he was a chamelion, and pretty damn sexy. anyway, i am glad spike lee is going to preserve the show and i'm glad you gave me a sense of how it appeared to you a second time.

[chris caggiano]

winer,

Well, Stew himself has said that he thinks other people could play the part. I don't see why not, although there is a certain authenticity and pathos that comes from Stew himself in the role. Perhaps that's one of the reasons they're filming the show.

It looks as though the Broadway production won't last long enough for us to find out whether Passing Strange will work with someone else at the helm. But there's always the possibility that the show might tour.