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Stop the presses -- please Review by: Tom Bestor, Dec 26, 2006 |
I wanted to like "Gutenberg: The Musical." I truly did. I knew it was low-budget, I knew it tried to take an ironic look at the world of Broadway musicals, especially the big, overblown variety. The concept is pretty simple: two guys named Doug and Bud have written a musical based on the life of Johannes Gutenberg. However, since these two guys are both lazy and stupid, they neglect to do any research on Gutenberg and work solely from the ... read more piece of information everyone knows about Gutenberg: he invented the printing press and first put it to use mass-producing copies of the Bible. The musical that results features idiotic lyrics and insipid premises (though some catchy tunes -- much better original music than in, say, "The Big Voice") -- but that's the point. It's SUPPOSED to be a bad musical. We're meant to laugh at these two guys for even dreaming they have a shot at Broadway. (Sort of like "Waiting for Guffman" in that aspect.) Bud and Doug are performing the musical under the pretense that we in the audience are there for a backer's audition. Bud and Doug are hoping a producer in the audience will take their show to the big time.
Unfortunately, watching a bad musical - even when it's bad in a winking, hip, ironic way - doesn't change the fact that it's bad. I got some good laughs out of the show, and the actors playing Doug and Bud (Christopher Fitzgerald and Jeremy Shamos) bring a huge amount of energy to the project, but it's just not worth recommending. This territory has been handled far better by "Urinetown" and "The Musical of Musicals: The Musical." |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Who knew the printing press could be this hilarious... Review by: kernel, Dec 14, 2006 |
| You will laugh throughout. Clever, amazing performers-not for the kids cause they won't get the jokes. Don't miss. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Tourists, Adults
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Funniest show in New York Review by: thebrown, Dec 11, 2006 |
| If you like musicals, you'll LOVE Gutenberg - and if you hate musicals, you'll still LOVE gutenberg - it's the funniest show I've seen in years. And after the reviews it got, it's bound to transfer (and get more expensive). I paid full price (only $35), and it was totally sold out, but there must be availability for the coming week, as they're doing plenty advertising. This is such a clever, sweet, hilarious show - go see it! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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