|
Pressestimmen zu "Dance of the Vampires" in New York |
 For
the most part, however, "Vampires" exudes the
less exalted, simply embarrassed feeling of a costume
party that everyone got all dressed up for and then
decided wasn't such a good idea. ... With his swept-back
lacquered hair and black-on-white contour makeup, he
looks like a Goth version of Siegfried, Roy and Wayne
Newton combined. Now that, you have to admit, is pretty
scary.Ben Brantley - The New York Times There's a prediction that I now will make, too, and I'm sure I will be right: Michael Crawford will live to rue the day he chose this ludicrous musical as the vehicle for his Broadway return. He'll cringe at the mortifying makeup job, which makes him look like a drag queen whose vanity mirror could use a few more lightbulbs, and the pseudo-mullet wig, scarier than any of the show's other special effects. Even now, he must know his expressive, reedy singing voice deserves more distinguished material. Of course, for now at least, Crawford can cringe all the way to the bank: On the strength of his massive "Phantom" following, the musical is doing strong business. Critical ridicule might dampen B.O. a bit, but the show will probably last out the season -- maybe longer. After all, the original production opened in Vienna in October 1997, and some five years later it is still on tour. Presumably it all sounds better in German. Charles Isherwood - Variety Oh Buffy, you Vampire Slayer - where were you when we needed you? ... The necessary distinction between the undead and the unliving was never quite clear enough in this carelessly engineered, Michael (the Phantom) Crawford-driven vehicle,  loosely
based on Roman Polanski's 1967 movie. Unfortunately, Jim
Steinman and Michael Kunze, the creators of "Dance
of the Vampires," went not for the jugular but the
giggular. For a lavish Broadway musical, a more subtle
and consistently sinister approach with a touch of
ghoulish humor would have paid better dividends. ...
Steinman has written music and lyrics that are never less
than acceptable, but his book, a collaboration with Kunze
and David Ives, is muddled and weak - and the
performances suffer as a result.Clive Barnes - New York Post Few musicals in recent years have created the expectations of "Dance of the Vampires." No one, mind you, expected anything good. But based on advance reports, many nurtured the hope that "Vampires" might be truly awful, like the legendary "Carrie: The Musical." It is my sad duty to report that, although the writing is amateurish and vulgar, the music mindless and the acting - for the most part - ludicrously broad, "Vampires" does not reach the "Carrie" threshold of awfulness. Howard Kissel - Daily News At the top of the second act of "Dance of the Vampires,'' the new musical by Meat Loaf songwriter Jim Steinman, Michael Crawford and his virgin victim break into the pop song, "Total Eclipse of the Heart.'' And suddenly it all makes sense. Not the musical. All hope of that was abandoned after a ludicrous production number called "Garlic'' in the second scene. What's clear is the motivation behind this disastrous effort. The entire show is built around that one pop song, Steinman's last hit, which as sung by Bonnie Tyler made it to No. 1 almost 20 years ago. In 1988, Steinman teamed with Michael Kunze for a German production of the musical, and like the undead whose story it tells, this show just wouldn't die. Unfortunately, one song does not a musical make, and the crazy quilt of elements tossed into this show make for a bizarre and chaotic evening. Terry Byrne - Boston Herald |
|
17.12.2002 |