We just got back from seeing the first preview of The Times They Are A-Changin’, the new Twyla Tharp/Bob Dylan project on Broadway. (Bob Dylan’s song catalog; Twyla Tharp’s choreography.)
Incomprehensible. Not awful – just incomprehensible. There’s basically no plot.
When I read earlier today that the show takes place in a circus, I knew this was going to be a weird one.
The dancing is very circus-influenced. There are several clowns. Circuses and clowns scare me. Not just clowns – circuses themselves. I must have some hidden childhood circus memory that subconsciously haunts me.
The dancers are excellent, I’ll say that. And at least Twyla Tharp is trying to be artistic. This isn’t just an attempt to make money off an artist’s musical catalog. So I can respect that. But it’s basically a bunch of Bob Dylan songs strung together for no reason. Matt and I kept glancing at each other with puzzled looks on our faces.
I don’t know what Ms. Tharp will do to fix the show before previews, if anything, and I have no idea what the critics are going to say.
But at least Michael Arden plays the lead, and he’s always a joy to watch and listen to.
I know Twyla Tharp is a big deal, but the year she won the Tony she seemed so entitled, and it really turned me off. I also got tired of hearing her f*cking name every morning on the local television commercials. It was back when they were advertising “Movin’Out” every five seconds because, I guess, nobody was going to see it.
Interesting since the west coast production got extended multiple times and received several strong reviews from major papers. Your opinion echoes others I’ve heard though.