I just got back from seeing Movin' Out at the Opera House. It was my first time seeing this Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaboration. Whenever I was in the city during its New York run, there was always something else I wanted to see more.
As to whether it's a musical, I say if the creators say it's musical, then it's a musical. Is Contact a musical? Yup. Because Susan Stroman and John Weidman say so. Is Movin' Out a musical? Sure. Shows like Movin' Out expand the idea of what a musical can be. So let's put the definitions behind us and focus on the inherent quality of the productions in question.
As for Movin' Out, I found the quality inconsistent. The choreography was hectic, muscular, and intermittently inspired. The story was cliched, but sporadically transcendent. Although I must say that everything came together at once during "Goodnight Saigon" in the second act. The character Eddie has a flashback to Vietnam and recalls his fallen friend, James. Very moving, and thrilling choreography. But the rest of Twyla Tharp's dance work was rather mundane, demonstrating very little of her trademark eclecticism.
Overall, Movin' Out is not so much a moving experience as an admirable achievement. Impressive for the undiscerning masses, but ultimately undistinguished as either theater or dance. I would imagine the show's success is more due to the Billy Joel connection. The audience seemed more interested in singing along to Joel's hits (much to my annoyance) and marveling at the Olympian feats of the dancers than in following the story line. It makes we wonder whether Tharp's next project, The Times They Are A-Changin', will have a more difficult time because Bob Dylan's music isn't quite as well known as Billy Joel's.
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