Floyd Collins :|

Book by Tina Landau

Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel

The Bridwell Theatre

0171 936 3456

Bride Lane, Off Fleet St, EC4Y 8EQ

Verdict for Floyd Collins

Music :(

I don't care that critics have been raving about it. BUT, as I always stress that this is from an audience's point of view. If I am buying a ticket, I want to be entertained and hopefully get a message from the story. There is not one song that impressed me. I did not come out humming any of the tunes. One thing good about the music is that the style is very consistent, consistently Sondheim. Apart from the first song from the second act, ' Is that Remarkable ', that's the only song remotely reminescent of a Broadway tune, very Jerry Herman.

Story :|

If a story of a man who was lost and then died in a cave can be made into a musical, then we really don't need writers any more. But then again, I am not an American from Kentucky, that story might be very remarkable to them.

Singing :)

Ms Anna Francolini and Ms Jill Martin have fantsatic vocal chords, shame the song did not use them to their full potential. The supporting cast was good too.

Production/Scenery :)

Full use of the venue.

Lighting :)

Great lighting, but as one would expect, we are in a cave, it's dark in a cave. Get some sleep before you see the show. ZZZ...

Acting :)

Mr Richards, who played Floyd, doesn't have the charisma to envoke enough sympathy from this audience to wish him saved form the terrible tragedy. Mr. John Martland ( The Stage ) summed it up well . . after all the waiting and the hype, Floyd Collins is finally over here - and over rated.