My memory of the Boston tryout is that Tveit isn't much of an actor, but when he sang you listened. Olivo had all the presence for the 2 of them lol.
I suppose that one thing Sondheim and other writers in his stead have done is create that expectation that a show needs to have a message to ponder. (Even if that wasn't necessarily Sondheim's foremost intent all the time.) Some shows are truly just meant to entertain, and I don't think there's a problem with that. As long as they're well-constructed theatrically. Ultimately, Moulin Rouge may not be anything groundbreaking or thought-provoking, but for me it did entertain effectively, and I felt it was a decently-crafted show. The only thing that didn't work for me was the way overlong "megamix" at the end. I get that leaving the audience with Satine's death would be too dark - but that is the end of the story as they wrote it, and everything after that tried way too hard to try way too hard, if you know what I mean. |
