tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515618904448639179.post4711263451870297438..comments2023-06-01T09:14:29.211-04:00Comments on Theatre Is Easy: 13 (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3515618904448639179.post-47931910732597802032008-10-30T14:48:00.000-04:002008-10-30T14:48:00.000-04:00As I've been talking with people about this show, ...As I've been talking with people about this show, I've noticed that some have enjoyed it, and many others have thought it was awful. Briefly, I loved it- it was one of the most exciting things I have seen in a long time. I urge everyone to go see it. So, why?<BR/><BR/>First, <I>13</I> is an original musical- it is not based on a book, movie, sitcom, cartoon character, thrill ride, or who knows what else. Of course, this by itself does not make it inherently better, but at the very least, we have the opportunity to hear a new story told by the <I>authors</I>, rather than just re-told by them. Maybe I romanticize a bit, but this is one of the things I enjoy about seeing new drama (as opposed to musicals)- we hear an author's <I>voice</I>- not an adaptation of someone else’s work. <BR/><BR/>Second, it is by Jason Robert Brown, one of my favorite contemporary composers of musical theatre. Again- having enjoyed his previous work does not mean one will enjoy <I>13</I>. It is very much Jason Robert Brown- those familiar with his previous work (especially <I>The Last Five Years</I> or <I>Songs For A New World</I>) should sense JRB’s composing style here. Personally, I think his work in <I>13</I> is kind of incredible, but not obviously so- but to explain why, I should take a step back and explain why I enjoyed this show so much.<BR/><BR/>What is this show about? It is about being thirteen years old- an uncomfortable, awkward period in one’s life, but also a period at which one begins to turn into an adult. The main issue in the plot concerns who will come to the main character’s bar mitzvah. This is significant- the bar mitzvah is the point at which a Jewish boy becomes a Jewish man- when they come of age and are responsible for their own actions and adherence to Jewish law. And that is precisely the issues that <I>13</I> deals with- taking responsibility for your actions, figuring out what kind of a person you want to be, etc. Granted- themes we’ve seen dealt with over and over again. So what makes this worth seeing?<BR/><BR/>To my mind, <I>13</I> captures this life in transition- this “double life” of the child AND adult in one- perfectly. We get a story told BOTH by the boy who is going through it, AND one told by the adult who wrote the material. Why is this different from other shows with child characters written by adults? In <I>13</I>, the entire cast is 13 (or thereabouts). There are no adult characters to counter the kids we see- the life of the thirteen year old comes through loud and clear. In a sense, since there are no adults on stage, WE become those adults, interacting with the teenager characters in a way we are never forced to do when we watch a show that has both teenagers and adults.<BR/><BR/>BUT, we aren't JUST given the life of a teenager- adult life comes through too- through JRB’s music, we never stop hearing the voice of the adult JRB looking back on his time as a teenager. His music deftly captures this aspect of reflection- it is “self-aware” and full of “hindsight” precisely BECAUSE this is not just a musical about being thirteen, but about what it was like when we all were thirteen, and what we have learned since (if anything, that is). JRB’s music is suitably peppy and poppy and catchy and (I hate this word) “youthful”- the music a 13-year old might write- but it is also clever and creative and complex- music a 13-year old could never write. I’m not enough of a musicologist to know exactly how JRB did this (it is in more than just the lyrics)- but I’ve seen enough musicals about kids, and with kids in the cast, to recognize that JRB is doing something different here.<BR/><BR/>One other thing- having an entire cast of teenagers (all of whom I think are terrific, and I am hoping both Graham Phillips and Aaron Simon Gross are remembered come Tony time) does something else- something I would never have expected. When they break into song, it makes complete sense- the song is heightened emotion because EVERYTHING is heightened emotion when you’re 13. Of COURSE you’re going to be upset about who might be coming to your Bar Mitzvah, and think that if it doesn’t go perfectly your life will be over. And this heightened drama is the stuff of musicals- it is why a whole musical can be built around who Laurey takes to the dance. Lately, I have found myself missing the excitement and the “Drama” (with a capital D- the “drama” in the most minor, everyday decisions) in a lot of new musicals. Either they are silly and ironic, or serious and intense- while they may be terrific pieces that I love going back to- this sense of the musical as heightened reality is often missing. In other words, recent musicals strive for the most “real” depiction of everyday life possible. But it is a MUSICAL! But I didn’t realize this was missing until I saw <I>13</I>. So yes, I am basically saying that seeing <I>13</I> made musical theater exciting again.<BR/><BR/>Will everyone love this show? No- but that is theatre. And is it the BEST show ever? Of course not. But it is pretty darn good, and I think it is a lot smarter than many give it credit for. It works on many levels, and for that reason alone, I think it is a better musical than many of the new musicals currently running (I haven’t seen <I>Billy Elliott</I> yet.) And of course this is just my opinion- but I think that some don't like <I>13</I> because it doesn't quite fit the mold of what a musical "should" be. And that is because <I>13</I> ISN’T like other things you have seen. I think this is exciting- indeed, something worth celebrating. <BR/><BR/>One final thing- of all of the musicals “marketed to families” (something I generally abhor- it tends to lead to mindless crap such as <I>The Little Mermaid</I>), <I>13</I> is one of the best shows I can think of to take kids to. It will challenge them without condescending to them, it will excite them and most likely, it will stay with them. I still remember watching Daisy Eagen win the Tony- just a couple years older than Eagen, I was electrified (and just a little bit jealous)- wow- there are kids who do Broadway! No surprise that <I>Secret Garden</I> was the first Broadway musical I saw. So I can just imagine the excitement of my young self at seeing <I>13</I>. (Of course, I had parents taking me to community theater productions of <I>Into the Woods</I> and <I>Sweeney Todd</I> by the time I was 10- so maybe I’m not so representative.) I think this is suitable for kids (I’m guessing age 10 and up?), and what’s more- I think they will love it. (Plus- I just noticed there is a study guide on the show’s website that parents might find useful).<BR/><BR/>If you’re one of those jaded theater-goers who hates everything, you won’t like <I>13</I> either. But if you enjoy seeing new musicals because you truly enjoy the genre- go see <I>13</I>.Dan Dinerohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06605168101860322668noreply@blogger.com