Broadway Features and Reviews
A Tale Of Two Cities: A Hit Or A Miz?
By Broadway Magazine Staff
The curtain went up and the French Revolution took over the stage of the Al Hirschfield Theater. It was opening night for A Tale Of Two Cities, the new musical from Jill Santioriello and starring James Barbour as the haunted hero Sydney Carton. Directed by Warren Carlyle, the show boasts an award-winning team with an impressive Broadway track record. Well, what did the critics think? Taking a survey of the opening night critics' reviews provides one measure of the show's success. Surveying a significant sampling of opening night reviews for A Tale Of Two Cities, here are the 4 Broadway Bullets that emerge as a critical consensus about the new musical.
1. A Tale of Two Cities is a lot like Les Miserables.
The dominant theme of the critics' seemed to be that this production is quite similar to Les Miserables, which could be seen as both a positive or a negative trait. The epic story set between two cities and spanning generations offers some clue to the similarity, but critics point out that it goes beyond setting. Many critics say the show sounds just like Les Miz. Whether critics hear "the faint echoes" of Lez Miz (AP) or more boldly state that this musical is "dull, dusty rip-off of Les Miz" (am New York), the comparisons seem invited and nearly universal.
2. James Barbour is giving an outstanding performance.
Regardless of what critics feel about the merits of the production, nearly all agree that playing the role of Sydney Carton, James Barbour is giving a performance of a lifetime. Critic Frank Scheck describes the performance as "a bravura star-making turn".
3. Jill Santioriello delivers Charles Dickens story, in short form.
While critics disagree about the her ability to capture the nuances and subtlety of Dickens' novel, most concede that despite some flaws "it's impossible not to be moved" (USA Today). Dissenters feel that there are confusing stretches and that the moral and social dimensions of the novel are glossed over. Despisers are a bit more negative.
4. A Tale Of Two Cities moves quickly.
Critics seem to be in agreement that the show moves quickly , and that the actors are always in motion. Director and choreographer Warren Carlyle "fast-paced direction creates an illusion of meaningful onstage activity" (Wall Street Journal). Some critics like the pace, while others did not.
Additional praise is to be found for the cast overall, the sets by Tony Walton, and some of the staging. Additional areas of criticism include the wigs, the over-serious tone, and the music. Looking at the four big themes emerging from the critics, it looks like A Tale Of Two Cities will appeal to fans of Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz, and could have a healthy run on Broadway.
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