Last night we ventured down Broadway with our 78 year old visitor to treat her to her very first Broadway show - Disney's new spectacular Tarzan. Still in previews and opening on May 10th this rumoured hot ticket show is based on the animated movie from the Edgar Rice Burroughs story, with music by Phil Collins, choreography by noted Merle Tankard and all the razzamatazz that Disney lavishes on its shows.
Undaunted by the long lines of midwestern tourists and B&T'ers th(e ususal crowd of Saturday evening theater goers), interspersed with squirming children and Michael Musto, we plunged into the throng at the Richard Rogers Theater, not knowing what to expect.
After a spectacular opening of Apes swinging out over the audience and a strange scene of beached human suspended upside down on the rear wall, the show seemed to drag and at times lapse into more of a high quality high school event. Where are the sets. A huge green box diminshes anything on the stage. Some of the animal props where laughable - the huge spider was simply bad. There was no real memorable showstopper songs - although Jenn Gambatese as Jane and Merle Dandridge as Kala had great voices.
After some time Josh Strickland finally swung obver the audience in his loin clothe.
After a very drawn out middle, the finale seemed rather abrupt and really lacked a punch. This will be the ticket of the season - especially for visitors. Our visitor loved it but said she would have liked a more standard musical - she was perhaps a touch tired with all the swinging, leaping and rolling around with butts in the air.
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