Every now and then I'm sure everybody sits in the middle of an audience going nuts for something that makes you shrug. That's my experience with Gettin' the Band Back Together. A committed and hard-working cast slam through this 2 1/2 hour (yes, it's an hour longer than The Band's Visit) show that trades endlessly on Jersey jokes and ethnic stereotypes. John Rando garnishes the proceedings with some deft throwaway gags, but the show constantly has to resort to making fun of its own devices in order to forestall the audience's objections. Well, that's not true. I sensed no objections from the audience. They weren't as snooty as I am.
There's another musical playing off-Broadway called Desperate Measures that is just as broad, but somehow it's a much better show. Kristine and I haven't been able to figure out why it's a better show, aside from having a stronger score. What is the dividing line between something that is dumb dumb and something that is smart dumb?
Off to Chatham tomorrow.
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