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TARZAN: A SPIRITUAL AND POLITICAL MESSAGE FOR OUR TIMES Review by: Beth M, Feb 6, 2008 |
TARZAN: Beyond Differences
By Beth Mandelbaum
But I have given a great deal of thought to why the musical Tarzan has tugged so hard at my heartstrings? To me, not only is it a very wonderful and unusual love story, but Tarzan also teaches us something about the misunderstandings, mistrust, divisions and rejections that arise when there is fear of that which seems different and unknown.
It is also about a love that, by its power to ... read more transcend and overcome perceived differences, embraces a sense of oneness, from a spiritual perspective. Fear separates and divides, while love and acceptance transcend boundaries, divisions and externals differences. The story speaks of the realization that external differences are not as significant as they may seem. It is also a visually stunning musical and for me, has a beautiful and powerful score by Phil Collins that underlines the themes of the story.
Kala, an ape who has found the infant whom she names Tarzan after he survives a ship wreck in which his English parents died, takes on the role of mother to him. As a child, Tarzan tells Kala that he realizes how different he is from her, though he doesn’t fully understand that he is human, whereas his mother is an ape. In a deeply moving and highly meaningful gesture, Kala puts her hand on to Tarzan’s hand and then touches his heart and guides him to touch hers. She is telling Tarzan, and also the audience, that there are certain fundamental aspects of our being, our touch and our feelings, which go far beyond the external differences that are visible to the eyes, but not the soul.
But Kerschak, Kala’s husband and ruler of a tribe of apes, has a different perspective on Tarzan’s differences from the others. To him, Tarzan becomes an object of mistrust and fear. He feels that Tarzan will endanger the tribe. One day, Kerchak finds Tarzan playing with loyal and devoted best friend, the young ape Terke. While Terke realizes that Tarzan is different and somehow a bit “weird,” he loves him regardless, and wants to do everything he can to help make Tarzan’s life with the tribe go smoothly, by trying to teach him some of the ways of the apes.
One day Terke, high up in a tree house-like structure, has wonderful fruits, which delight Tarzan, who has found, or made what he calls a fruit picker, a long green object with a sharp end, so that he can get some of the fruits. Kerchak believes that Tarzan is using a dangerous weapon, and this convinces him that Tarzan must now be forever banished for the sake of the safety of the tribe. In the song “There is No Other Way”, Kershak tells us that he had long been aware that because Tarzan was different by birth, he can never be a part of this community, and that, more significantly, he is destined to become an enemy to be feared. And because of this, he must banish Tarzan.
But Kala, from the depths of courage and a deeply open and maternal heart, stays with Tarzan away from the tribe, to raise him.
How far one has come from the opening song, “Two Worlds,” a song which moves me deeply every time I hear it. In this song we hear the voice of Tarzan singing his very inspiring and optimistic faith in the idea of “two worlds, one family,” where life can be peaceful and filled with love, with everyone living in harmony, despite differences.
As Tarzan comes to realize that Kerchak does not want him to be part of the tribe, or even go near it, he questions himself and blames himself. He wants desperately to understand what he did wrong to deserve this fate. His desire is a universal one: to find his place in the world and have a sense of his identity; to be understood; and to find a true sense of belonging rather than being rejected and pushed aside. The song that Tarzan sings, “I Need to Know,” is a powerful expression of this timeless need in the human condition.
I am very struck by how later in the musical, after |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Tourists
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Tarzan ROCKS! Review by: nikopup, Jan 30, 2008 |
| I do not know how anyone does'nt love this show. It is one of the best shows i have seen and i have seen many. I am only 14 but i have seen many shows such as Mary Poppins, Wicked, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and so on. I loved Tarzan. I have been a Tarzan fan since i was like 5. I was glad it went on broadway but very disapionted when they took it off. PUT THE SHOW BACK ON!!!!!!!! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Hope they bring it back... Review by: knarrly, Nov 6, 2007 |
| I never got to post this review when I went to see the musical in March. I went with my mom and daughter (both of them never having seen a Broadway show before.) We all loved the show. The acting was wonderful (all cast members were present except Kala, whose understudy performed.) For those who say that "anyone who has seen The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast will be disappointed", I have seen both, and still enjoyed this show. I am ... read more just disappointed that the show ended before I could take my son to see it, as well. I'm actually horrified to see all the bad reviews on here. I got my tickets with a coupon code, but I would have gladly paid full price for my orchestra seats. We still listen the the soundtrack all the time. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
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Great stunts all over great, I want to see it again and again. Review by: , Oct 6, 2007 |
| This musical was amazing I could not believe how breathe taking all of the stunts like the monkeys in the vines. I would definitly recomend it to everyone. It was so great. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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What an awesome performance...I am still singing the songs with my kids!!! Review by: Tarzanfan4life, Jul 20, 2007 |
I LOVED IT!!!! I was so moved and so were my kids! I took my Husband (who doesn't like musicals) my sons 4 & 6 and they loved it! We bought the CD and played it on the way home. This was May 20th 2007 and we still play the CD...the kids fight on which songs to play first. All the songs were sung so well..I wanted to take my nieces for my sons 7th birthday on July 10th and was heartbroken it ended just 3 days before. I would have made sure to ... read more definitely see it again.I am simply shocked at the bad reviews on this site..This was truly an awesome musical for the whole family...the costumes were fantastic...the cast was amazing...their voices were was moving. Wish I could experience it again! It was a great introduction to broadway for my boys!! I would like to thank them for that!
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family
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Great show! Review by: allicat, Jul 11, 2007 |
| I just saw Tarzan on one of its last nights and I thought it was fantastic! I have no idea what all of these people are talking about with their poor reviews. The music was excellent, the acting great, and the whole show was just enchanting. I definitely give this play 2 thumbs up and would see it again if I had the chance! Josh Strickland was excellent as Tarzan. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Made me want to never see a broadway show again Review by: Cholie, Jul 3, 2007 |
| that was the worst thing that ive ever seen in my life...u see green the whole time i never wanted to see green again and the acting was horrible!! dont waste ur money luckily its closing. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Closing. It's about time. Review by: , Jul 2, 2007 |
| WOW, Tarzan finally got something right. It's closing. I wish it had been sooner and I wouldn't be out $500. I wish there was some kind of refund policy. Your imagination is more entertaining then this show could have been. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Glad I saw it...but... Review by: mickey, Jul 1, 2007 |
| The cast was incredibly talented in their singing and most of their acting. The songs are pretty good, too. After over 400 performances, though, I would have thought the technical elements would have been cleaned up - it was very distracting watching the actors so obviously hook and unhook themselves from the cables. If you missed the show (because it's closing next Sunday) you missed some pretty creative effects, but not much else.... read more. The opening sequence deserves all the attention it received - if you missed this theatrical marvel chances are you'll get to see something like it (I hope) in the opening sequence of the upcoming Little Mermaid, since both stories begin with a near drowning in a shipwreck! The rudest broadway audience I have ever encountered, getting up, talking, checking cell phones, eating candy throughout the whole show - I felt like I was watching a show in a Disney theme park! |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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The Entire Family, Tourists
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SO BAD, IT'S PAINFUL Review by: SOOOO DISAPPOINTED, Jun 23, 2007 |
I'M SORRY, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING TARZAN IS GREAT, MUST BE WORKING FOR THIS PARTICLUAR SHOW IN SOME WAY.
OTHERWISE, WHY WOULD ANYONE MISLEAD ANYONE TO WASTE THEIR TIME AND MONEY. BE WISE. THERE ARE SO MANY SHOWS THAT CAN PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. THIS IS JUST SUCH A BLAHHHHHHH.
P.S NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE. |
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Don't go
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PURE MAGIC ON STAGE! Review by: Jenn, Jun 19, 2007 |
| Tarzan on Broadway is stunning, and one that tells you otherwise will at least agree that production was absolutely amazing. The colorful, challenging acrobatics, combined with talented vocals, amazing cast, and overall creativity in the technical aspects impressed me far more than I expected from a Disney show. Watch out for Alex Rutherford as the young Tarzan, Chester Gregory II as Terk, Merle Dandrige as Kala, (perhaps the best in the show ... read more to me) and of course, Jenn Gambaste and Josh Strickland, (Jane & Tarzan) who were both very impressive both vocally and in their acting. One minor flaw in the show was the music and lack of true depth in the songs; the lyrics were never truly stand-out amazing to me, and the music, flat, at times, in that poppy way. But I swear to you that Tarzan on Broadway is always visually enticing, beautiful, and touching, all the same, and will leave you with a tear or two by the end. If you are in NY, PLEASE SEE IT! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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LOVED IT! Would see it again Review by: , Jun 8, 2007 |
| AMAZING SHOW!! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I LOVE TARZAN!!! Review by: BROADWAYBABE 4 LIFE, May 13, 2007 |
| OMG DONT LISTEN TO THE HATERS OF TARZAN. TARZAN IS AMAZING IM A 14 YR OLD BROADWAYBABE AND I LOVED TARZAN. IF YOU THINK JUST CAUSE IM 14 I LOVE ANY SHOW I SEE WELL YOUR WRONG SO IF YOU DONT BELIVE ME DONT READ THIS COMMENT. JOSH STRICKLNAD (TARZAN) IS AMAZING AND HOTT!!! ALSO THIS SHOW IS SO UPLIFTING, ONE DAY IF YOU COME TO THE SHOW DEPRESSED OR UPSET, YOU WILL WALK OUT OF THE RICHARD ROGERS THEATRE FEELING AMAZED AND HAPPY. THE SET IS AMAZING, ... read more THE COSTUMES WERE AMAZING, AND THE ACTORS VOICES WERE FANTASIC. GO SEE TARZAN 1,2, OR 20 TIMES YOU WILL LOVE IT. I WAS IN ROW D AND I WAS SO AMAZED BY EVERYTHING. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Great show for the whole family Review by: , May 11, 2007 |
| Great show, especially seeing it from the Mezzanine - the best view of everything, plus Tarzan and others fly from there. Good for kids of 6+, otherwise it's a little too long 50-60 min first act and 50 min second. The actors were great, effects are terrific. Get discounted tickets through the BroadwayBox.com - well worth it. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family
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Don't waste your money Review by: Ro, Apr 30, 2007 |
| I bought these tickets with great expectations after seing Mary Poppins. To my dismay this was a big waste of money. A lot of hype for nothing. Don't waste your money.. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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