ROCKY THE MUSICAL IS A
WINNER!
Maybe it’s because I’m a
fighter, maybe it’s because I am half Italian…I don’t know…but Rocky is and
forever will be my FAVORITE movie!
I believe everything you need
to know about life you can find in a Rocky movie. You watch Rocky when you are feeling down
on your luck, Rocky 2 when you are feeling romantic, Rocky 3 when you are
losing your edge, Rocky 4 when you are feeling patriotic, Rocky 5 when you are
broke and Rocky 6 when you have arthritis.
I love that character so much I even like Rocky 5 and 6. Maybe this makes you question my judgement but
it should make you realize I’m an authority on the subject. I will tell you this: when I heard they were doing a Rocky play for
Broadway I was not happy. I didn’t want anyone to make a mockery out of that
first film. I really hate remakes of
things that are so beautiful they shouldn’t be touched. Rocky captured the
heart of a fighter and a broken person's desire for love and acceptance. I work in the fight business and Rocky is
referenced at least once a day. I got
my tickets and I worried. Thirty seconds
in my doubts were lifted. I was hooked!
On Broadway, Tom Meehan’s script follows the movie faithfully. It captured all the nuances of the 70’s,
Rocky’s bad jokes and several moments were 100 percent true to the film (I know it by heart), and the things that
were added were brilliant and sweet. I
really enjoyed some of the script changes even though I am a Rocky purist. They
worked for the stage and breathed new life into the characters we all love.
The cast is Great! Andy Karl (Jersey Boys) as Rocky, captures 1970’s Stallone in an uncanny way. He perfected
the walk and just enough of the voice and slack jaw that it seemed authentic
without being a bad impersonation of Sly. Anyone who knows the movie well will
remember that there’s a part where Rocky knocks Apollo down. Rocky is so stunned by this he spins
awkwardly trying to get to a neutral corner.
The dude playing Rocky captures that spin so well I swear it was cut and
pasted from the film.
Margo Seibert plays Adrian.
They pair well together and the sweetness and tenderness is not lost
even though her solo numbers somewhat drag. Dakin Matthews is Mickey, the old-timer who
becomes Rocky’s manager. The actors captured the roller coaster of their initial
relationship well. Terrence Archie plays
Apollo Creed. He might be the sexiest man
I have ever seen on stage and his body speaks professional athlete. Danny
Mastrogorgio plays Adrian’s brother Paulie. He’s a bit more confident and less
brooding than Burt Young’s Paulie. He comes off more as an arrogant jerk than
a struggling alcoholic but it still works.
The music is not entirely Bill Conti’s score even though you can
expect to hear some familiar melodies from the original films. Some of the songs fall flat, I could do
without Mickey’s musical number, Adrian’s solo numbers drag a bit but she has
an extremely pretty voice and it captures the characters mousiness. Without revealing too much I will say this…
there’s an Apollo-Creed-1970’s- moment with some dancing girls and some outfits
that put Diana Ross and Beyoncé to shame.
Now lets get to the most impressive thing about this musical_ THE SET DESIGN!
The scenes in the gym are great.
Of course its stage combat so it’s doesn’t look 100 percent real but
it’s pretty damn good. And I am shocked they found musical theatre actors that
physically look like fighters. There was one dude so massive I was like “is
that Allistair Overeem”?
The recreation of the museum steps, the streets of Philadelphia, his
crappy apartment, the neighborhood, the meat locker, the reporters and
commentators at a fight event….I could honestly go on and on but I don’t want
to reveal too much. There were several
moments I said “wow” out loud and prompted the Shut-the-F-up-half-turn- from
the guy sitting in front of me. Let me
put it to you this way- if this show doesn’t win something for set design I
will be furious. I may actually watch
the Tony’s this year! It was a really
fun night out reliving some of the heart and soul of what made Rocky touch people so genuinely. I could say so much more but I will just say – Go
buy a ticket.
