Zhivago, A Tragedy

Just got back from watching Zhivago at the Playhouse. The music was by the same person that did The Secret Garden and the score is equally as beautiful. The show was intense and emotional with lots of passion but it was like looking at a beautiful painting all done in different shades of yellow. The show was equally mono emotional, beautiful but entirely performed from the same emotional palate.

The story in the musical was a lot like the story in the movie. Of course it didn’t have the cinematography of the movie but the musical didn’t have the limitations inherent in a film either. Lots of levels with actors in different spaces creating great stage pictures and giving some great opportunities for duets, quartets etc. But in the end it was very tragic. Not a great ending for an American Audience--they ought to premier it in London where they love tragedies.

The guy who played Zhivago was an old classmate of mine. We were in a number of shows together in college including Romeo and Juliet. He was Romeo and I played his father Montegue. Lots of other shows too. He’s grown up and trained up and ready for a pre-Broadway show title role, how quickly and wonderfully they grow up. There were several other locals that I knew in the show too. I guess I have a few congratulatory emails to write now.

Another old classmate of mine (who I worked with later at The Stage Co) called me out of the blue and wanted to have lunch to discuss a project he’s working on. I was supposed to meet him last week but a VP from LA came to visit that day and I had to reschedule. We’ve rescheduled to next week. I’m very curious as to what he’s got. He’s got me meeting him at what he’s alluded to as his theatre space. Hmmmm, curiouser and curiouser.