Glorious Ones, The review
With the cheerful music of Stephen Flaherty, the strange troupe of comedians invites the audience to Italy of the 16th century, telling about the life and diluting vulgar jokes with dramatic revelations. The musical will hardly surprise with something original, if the viewer is already familiar with commedia dell’arte genre. Actors don't do anything original, and clownish suits, as well as images, seem very and very clichéd. The dwarf, the Arlechino, and a beautiful noblewoman – what can be more banal?
On the other hand, it is necessary to agree with journalists of New York Times, that this ordinary humor and classical comical show has something attractive. At some point, you are even filled with sympathy to the main character, who continually tries to kill himself – whether for fun or really. Marc Kudisch appears as the real leader of troupe – self-confidence is supported with depth of his velvety voice. Kudisch obviously feels oneself at ease and exudes complacency. However, we see as real human problems and experiences that are behind a curtain of a humor and trite jokes, and actors undoubtedly should be praised for that.
The number of characters here is not glaring at all. Julyana Soelistyo as the faddish dwarf, Arlechino – Jeremy Webb and charming Erin Davie look surprisingly harmoniously, as well as the other participants of troupe. Dancing numbers are dynamic and well put, despite their plainness, all this action looks quite spiritedly.
Certainly, this comic genre, which has really passed through centuries, as the main character says in the end of the musical, has the right for existence. Eventually, these obscene jokes, as correctly as it possible, show another, dirty side of life of the travelling troupe, their internal disagreements and love intrigues. The absence of love to low-grade humor isn't an argument enough not to watch the musical, but can disappoint the viewer, as such works are only for the special audience that is cynical enough to behold the world as it is.
Last Update:April, 06th 2016
Glorious Ones, The Lyrics
- Prologue: The Glorious Ones Lyrics
-
Making Love Lyrics
- Pantalone Alone Lyrics
- The Comedy of Love Lyrics
- Scenario: The Madness of Columbine Lyrics
- The Comedy of Love (reprise) Lyrics
- The Glorious Ones (reprise) Lyrics
- Madness to Act Lyrics
-
Absalom Lyrics
- The Invitation to France Lyrics
- Flaminio Scale's Historical Journey to France Lyrics
- Two Lazzi Lyrics
-
Armanda's Tarantella Lyrics
- Improvisation Lyrics
-
The World She Writes Lyrics
-
Opposite You Lyrics
-
My Body Wasn't Why Lyrics
- Scenario: The Madness of Isabella Lyrics
- Flaminio Scale's Ominous Dream Lyrics
- The World She Writes (reprise) Lyrics
- Rise and Fall Lyrics
- The Moon Woman Lyrics
- The Glorious Ones (reprise) Lyrics
- I Was Here
- Armanda's Sack Lyrics
- Finale Lyrics