Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, CA)
Based on the heartwarming true story of an unusual-looking boy and his unconventional biker mother, this pop-rock musical has been adapted from the award-winning film starring Cher and Eric Stoltz. The show features music by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, one of the most successful songwriting teams in history ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "Somewhere Out There").
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The last event was Thursday April 17, 2008 / 8:00pm. (view all dates)
I have to give major props to the performers for doing the best job they could with the material they were given. The performances were, for the most part, very good, which is why I am giving this production 1 star instead of no stars. But, the show itself was awful! I was skeptical about a musical version of 'Mask', but I did try to go into it with an optimistic attitude. The show opens up with the biker 'gang' singing a big, rousing rock musical opening tune. While it was a little awkward to see a bunch of bikers being musical, it wasn't so bad. The next song belonged to Rusty, and I actually liked it. The song was really good, and the actress playing Rusty gave a stellar performance. But, it was all downhill from there. In my opinion, the songs were awkward and they all sounded alike. I was actually embarrassed for the performers who were playing the high school kids--- their material was particularly awful (and they seemed to be embarrassed for themselves at times). Then you had the power ballads where the bikers are singing about their trek across the country --- it was more laughable than moving. Or a song for Rusty's breakdown, which made such a powerful moment extremely trivial because the song again was very awkward. That scene would have been very moving without any singing. It was like the composer and lyricist had a goal for how many songs they wanted to have in the show, and they threw songs in at unnecessary, unnatural places just to reach their goal.
The creators took way too many elements from the movie and tried to make them work on stage, and it just didn't work. (And the funny part is director Maltby's letter to the cast, which was included in the program, in which he says they will not be referring so closely to the movie. Please!) For example-- the mirror scene in the movie was poignant, because Rocky sees himself in a mirror that distorts his face so it looks normal. Well, the mirror scene is certainly in this musical, but it's awkward and clunky, with the ensemble running around (yes, running) and spinning the mirrors as they go. And, there's no moment where Rocky sees his new reflection, so there's no reason for the scene to take place in that setting. This scene could have very easily taken place in their home, and it would have actually been powerful, and we wouldn't have been distracted by the mirrors. The moral: you don't need to take every moment from the movie and put it on stage!
My seat was near the back of the orchestra section, and through the entire peformance, the creative team was speaking rather loudly (possibly into tape recorders) and taking notes. I realize it was a preview night, and they probably had important changes to make, but even on preview nights, we are paying customers and we don't want to have that distraction through the whole show. It's bad enough that you have to deal with cell phones ringing and audience members talking, we don't want to deal with the creative team making a ruckus as well. I didn't think I would have to deal with that at such a high-profile place as the Pasadena Playhouse.
So, would I recommend this musical? Yes--- as an educational experience. Go and see 'Mask' so you can see what not to do in a movie-to-stage musical adaptation.
Needs some cuts and some fine tuning (mostly pacing) to bring it down by about 20 minutes... the first act is almost an hour 45 minutes. Since I saw a preview, I am sure this will pull together. Most of the music is really wonderful and the performances of the main characters are VERY VERY good.
Amazing performances by amazing actors: Michelle Duffy, Allen E Read, Michael Lanning, and Greg Evigan. Great supporting cast: James Leo Ryan, Mark Luna, Diane Delano, Sarah Glendening, Heather Marie Marsden, Suzanne Petrela, Alec Barnes, Brad Blaisdell, Katy Blake, Ryan Castellino, Chris Fore, Krysten Leigh Jones, Shanon Mari Mills, Ethan Le Phong, and Matthew Stocke. Fabulous music by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Put them all together and you get wonderful theatre experience.
wonderful piece of theatre... touching story,,, great casting and performances... too bad I saw it on closing night... so many people I wish I could have told to see it.. JH
I didn't know what to expect ... and had friends in the show, so I was a bit worried that I would have to stretch the truth after the show.
To my delight, the show was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!
I could easily see this playing in one of the Broadway playhouses ... and was happy to greet my friends with that opinion after the show!
If you can get there before it closes ... GO!!
After you get past the levi's and leather, it's really just a GREAT show with a HUGE heart. I recommend it very highly.
As an avid musical theater lover, I did enjoy the show, especially the vibrant performances, clever sets, and make-up. I think the show has enormous potential but I hope the creative team views the current incarnation as a workshop version as there is much reworking to do if the show is to move to the next level. One of several problems concerns 3 songs in the 1st act that did not move the story forward. If they were eliminated the first act would be tighter and no information would be lost. Without listing all my thoughts I'll boil it down to a central issue.
The primary challenge is that the songs are delivered almost exclusively by one character at a time, while there is often a stage full of players looking on. The group numbers are mostly delivered by entire groups in unison and of one mind, not as unique individuals adding to a fuller whole. If the score was re-worked to become more interactive and conversational it would make a world of difference. The supporting players are underused and often just watch one character deliver an entire song alone. If half the score became interactive and vocally included many of the players on stage during any given number, the dynamics of the show could soar and bring this production to the next level. Think of the opening number of 'Company' or any group number in 'Rent' or 'Spring Awakening'
Can the creative team willingly let go of what isn't working and do whatever it takes to bring the show to its fullest potential? We shall see. I hope so, the show is very good and has the potential to become great.
It was one of the best musicals I've seen. My mom and I saw it, loved it, then took our husbands and my daughter...We all loved it. My husband is thinking about taking his whole Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club!!! We really, really enjoyed it...cried and laughed. The acting and musical talent was outrageously awesome! We will recommend this to anyone who will listen; it's only too bad that it's ending 4/20/08!!!! Get there!!!!
Had read some reviews. Wasn't sure how this would work as a musical, so I had to see for myself. It was an outstanding and very emotional show, yet uplifting. Many people can relate to the themes in the play. I will certainly recommend it to my friends!
I think this is a few steps away from Broadway, a couple re-writes and they are off...
This is a new musical based on the movie. It is a great story, told very well. the music and the performances were very, very good.....it is really an enjoyable theater evening.
The play was excellent. The 2 main characters, Rocky and Rusty, were amazing. I took my 2 girls, 11 & 12, to see it and they LOVED it - they already want to go again. What a fun night!
This is a very exciting and well-performed musical. Although the ballads seem a bit repetitive and at times it feels like a rock concert, it's by no means a mediocrity. It should appeal to the "Spring Awakening"-typed (angst ridden) generation. After a few tweaks, it could be Broadway ready. (And, I do hope it's heading that direction). All leading players sing beautifully, especially Allen E. Read. His Rocky is a breath of fresh air. With his angelic voice, he shines brightly.
Not a bad idea to musicalize this and premiering it at the Pasadena Playhouse when the real "Rocky" grew up in Azusa, was a great idea. The book sticks pretty close to the movie, but the score, written by Weill/Mann (pop-song writers with no theater background) was a HUGE mistake. I couldn't hum you one bar from the show immediately after leaving. There was an awful song about Erik Estrada. There were so many songs that the first act ended up being almost an hour and a half long. The set and lighting were both great. The cast was uniformly good, but Michelle Duffy in the Cher part of Rocky's mother, was miscast. Her rock voice was screechy and strident. Greg Evigan played the Sam Elliott part and was pretty good...a little too pretty and either he was trying to gruff up his voice for the biker part or he's a terrible singer. Allen E. Read as Rocky was excellent, even better than Eric Stoltz in the movie. They got the makeup guy from the movie to recreate the makeup and it looked excellent. The direction by theater veteran Richard Matlby, Jr. was not great. At one point they had some great slides of the real Rocky growing up and he directed the mother to stand down center stage so that she blocked the audience from seeing the slides. I missed seeing most of them. No one seems to know how to lead in and out of songs, they just start and stop awkwardly with the audience mildly applauding in confusion.
This show had such an interesting story, yet it was bogged down by too many songs that did not move the plot along. If there had been more dialogue in between the different musical numbers, it would have been a much more well crafted production. The actors were good, the sets were GREAT and I liked the rock music aspect of it. Yet, it became boring with one song after another after another.
such a shame
the actors and story SUPERB
the music, HORRID
It was a musical which did not have to be written. Based on an excellent film, the musical had nothing to add. Poor libretto, boring and generic music, unoriginal direction. Every musical theatre cliche was used.
Although it is done as a musical, very hard hitting....excellent song routines, stage is in the round....very impressed!
Was really hoping that this would be a good show. Unfortunately it did not deliver on the songs, script, sets, actors, or costumes. I guess some movies should just be left as movies and not try to adapt them into stage musicals.
There were 3 of us who attended and we thought the show was fantastic. The actors gave outstanding performances and their oftentime "gravelly" voices made them believable as bikers. We thought "Rocky" and "Rusty", in particular, were exceptional.
The talk in the ladies room after the show was of how good a show it was.
P.S. I don't know what the L.A. Times reviewer was smoking the night he saw the show, but it obviously wasn't the same show we saw.
I thought the acting was excellent, but there were too many songs, and it was much too long. It was uncomfortable watching the finale of act 1. The message of his mother needing to look in the mirror rather than himself could have been so much more compelling and emotional without them chasing each other through the "house of mirrors." It became almost comedic.
Founded in 1917 and housed in the present building since 1925, the historic Pasadena Playhouse has made an indelible mark on American theater. It has received hundreds of awards including designations from Los Angeles Drama-Logue, Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle, The NAACP, LA Weekly, Backstage West (Garland Awards), LA Stage Alliance (Ovation Awards) as well as numerous other entities. The Play... More
One of the most successful songwriting teams in history, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," "Somewhere Out There"), prolific writer Anna Hamilton Phelan ("Gorillas in the Mist," "Girl Interrupted") and Tony-Award winner Richard Maltby (creator of Ain't Misbehavin' and Fosse, and the co-creator of Miss Saigon) have collaborated to create Mask, a musical based on the award-winning film.
The pop-rock tuner is based on a true story of an unusual-looking boy and his unconventional biker mother. She shows him how to embrace life -- and he shows her how to choose it.
Book by Anna Hamilton Phelan
Music by Barry Mann
Lyrics by Cynthia Weil
Directed by Richard Maltby
Based on the Universal motion picture "Mask"
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