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brookie-the-cookie-lmao · 4 months ago

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ok, if y’all have seen one of earlier posts, i was saying that i desperately needed a bootleg of “The Outsiders Musical” because i’m actually a whore for The Outsiders. well, funny enough, I don’t need it anymore because i was able to watch it in NY 😭 it’s a whole thing, but now i need to talk about it.

spoilers ahead!!!!

The Review, Thoughts, and Opinions, of “The Outsiders Musical” from A Theatre Kid

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to watch the original cast. The show I watched had pretty much all of the Understudies for the Greasers, except for Sodapop (Jason Schmidt) and Dallas (Joshua Boone). Thankfully, those understudies were phenomenal, so I’m definitely not complaining. They put on such a spectacular show, and they deserve so much credit and recognition for the work they’ve put into this.

Take my review with a grain of salt. I’m no professional. Just an enjoyer of musicals, who’s been in a few herself.

Oh, and speaking of credit and recognition, I need to talk Techies before I deep dive into the characters and their respective actors.

The Technical Aspects:

Choreo

Dude, that choreography was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I loved the way that they utilized every part of their stage and props. The dancing and jumping off of the car was so cool. I think my favorite choreo moments have to be “Run Run Brother” and the rumble scene. The way the planks were used to hide and carry and Johnny and Ponyboy was so enthralling to watch. And the rumble scene was so cool. I’m going to go into detail about this scene later.

Sounds

The sound crew is so talented. I loved the muffled, underwater sounds when Ponyboy was being drowned. I loved the train noises. I loved how balanced all the mics were. There were literally no issues that I could point out at my show with mics going out. They were perfect. I loved when those quick flashes of lights would happen and everything blacks out, the noises that went with it. I loved the noises when Ponyboy gets jumped (and the other characters too, but Ponyboy gets jumped a lot) and his head hits the car. The unconscious noises that followed. So good.

Lights

The lights were so cool. I thought it was interesting (and maybe it’s because I’ve never seen a Broadway show before this) how there were no handheld spotlights. I’m not a light person, so idk how it all works, but they were like programmed to follow them or they were moving the lights from their booth? Anyways, it was cool. The sunrise was beautiful. The church glass mural reflecting onto the ground was so cool. I loved the quick black-outs, with that singular light flashing. Idk how to describe it, but I loved it.

Props / Set

Dude the set was so cool. The gravel, the cars. I loved the cars. I loved how they used that one car the entire show and made it into different things. I loved how the Socs car moved. I loved the use of the planks. They were benches, they were hiding spots during “Run Run Brother”, they were Johnny’s death bed, they were used during the church burning. I thought it was cool that they used real food during that final scene between the Curtis boys. I loved all the climbing they did. On that jungle-gym looking thing on stage right, and the utilization of the higher parts of the stage. Pony and Johnny hung out there, ensemble/Socs/dally was there during “Tulsa ‘67 (Reprise)”. So cool. I loved the tire full of water, and how they put that topper on it so they could stand or sit or dance on it.

Costumes/Hair/Makeup

I live for Ponyboy’s blonde wig. That was hilarious.

The costumes were great! I liked that they didn’t completely base them off of the movie costumes and went for something a little different. I did find it funny how (and I think that was at the drive-in, or one of the scenes leading up to it) that Ponyboy had Johnny’s jacket in the movie, and Musical-Johnny had the cut-off sleeve jean jacket — similar to watch Ponyboy was wearing in the movie. Was it intentional? I guess we’ll never know.

I think the use of fake blood falls under this category? If not… womp womp.

The blood was so cool. I loved during the rumble scene how one minute all the boys had clean faces, and then when they were all center stage, fighting slo-mo, lights turning on and off, how they slowly started getting blood all over their faces and clothes. I thought it was so cool the use of blood during Bob’s death. He got stabbed, lights went on and off, each time showing a different pose of the actors, and Bob’s shirt just got bloodier and bloodier.

Music / Orchestra

The orchestra was amazing. I didn’t notice anything go wrong, everything sounded very smoothly. They did so good.

So, apparently some people have actually complained about the music? I really liked it, but I also see where they’re coming from. Loved the country feel to the songs — bc it’s literally set in Oklahoma. But, I also would’ve liked to get more of that 60s feel (think Elvis and the Beatles) rather than a modern feel.

But overall, I really enjoyed it. I’m not gonna sit here and legitimately complain, bc I didn’t hate it, I just was expecting a different vibe.

Idk Where To Categorize These

I also loved the use of the flashlights. Blinding? Yes. But, cool?? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Uhm, the rain??? Excuse me? I knew that that was in the show, but seeing it live was so much cooler. Like, how the hell do you even do that? I’ve never heard of something like that before. It was so cool.

The pyrotechnics was so cool!! There was soooo much fire. More and more fire popped up as the church-fire scene progressed, which was just 😫😫

The Actors and Their Characters:

So, when it comes to diving into the specifics of the characters, I do think it would be better to watch it a second time to be able to understand them better (that’s what I do with movies. First time you watch, it’s for entertainment. The second time, it’s to dissect it). And I say that because I am most familiar with the original source material. That’s what I was comparing this musicals and these characters to when I watched it. If I were able to watch it a second time, I don’t think I’d have that holding me back in my initial critique, because it did change the way I thought. If that makes any sense???

That being said, I do understand that books, movies, and musicals are all three completely different pieces of media. I don’t think that they should be compared too insanely harshly because the details that you can add into a book cannot always be reiterated in the movie. Musicals are a completely different territory, a different audience, and sometimes the flow that makes sense in a book or movie does not make sense in a musical.

Ok, moving on now. Just needed to put that out there as I critique and compliment these characters :)

The Ensemble

They had a very small ensemble cast, but they put their all into their roles. And, I say small, but I think I expected more because I’m used to high school theatre where they try to give as many kids an opportunity as they can. (I did Little Shop not too long ago, and our ensemble was huge compared to traditional Broadway casting for it. I think we had like 13 or 14 ensemble members?) Anyways, they were great. I loved that they had the Soc girls dress up as guys for the rumble. I was humored by that, idk why. I loved the cute little dance the Soc girls had in the beginning. The boys did really good during the rumble scene and during all the jumping scenes.

Paul & Bob — Dan Berry & Kevin William Paul

They were greatttt! I don’t have a bunch to say, since the story doesn’t focus too much on these two. But their performances were amazing.

I did find it interesting that Paul was actually a character in the musical, more so than he was in both the book and movie. Homeboy was not involved for the contents of the book up until the rumble (same with the movie), but he was the main Soc in the musical. It’s not a bad thing. But, it did stick out to me that they essentially replaced Randy for Paul. And i know that Randy ended up “being one of the good ones” in the book/movie, so I can see why they might not have wanted to expand in his character for sake of the story and time. But, I actually wouldn’t have been upset if they changed Randy’s character to what Paul was. If they just and whim want revenge. Idk. Ig I just missed Randy lol

Cherry — Emma Pittman

BRO CHERRY WAS SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING IN THE MUSICAL

I actually really liked her. And it’s not that I didn’t like her character before, I just was never impressed with anything she did. She was just kinda there. She was just the girl Pony had a crush on, nothing more.

But here?? She’s so much more than that

Once again, this goes back to how real these characters are.

Her and Ponyboy made a connection at the drive-in. That was always clear, but I don’t think it was portrayed as well as it could’ve been in the movie. In the musical, they showwwedddd it!!! They showed how similar the two were. That, despite their differences, they became friends that night.

I loved that she even broke up with Bob.

Her line “If I don’t talk to you at school, don’t take it personal” has a completely different perspective here too. In the movie, I thought she said that because of Bob. Because she didn’t want to cause a problem and Bob either her or Ponyboy. In the musical, since now Bob doesn’t matter bc they broke up, it means something else. It could be see as an asshole thing to do bc “oh why shouldn’t they just defy dumb biases??” But it’s more than that. It was a way to protect him. If Ponyboy was seen talking to not just a Soc, but Cherry Valance, he’d be given so much shit. Probably jumped. Cherry would also get a lot of shit for it too.

And she seemed like she cared so much more about Ponyboy in the musical. How she checked in on Ponyboy, cared about him while he was gone and then being hunted down by Socs, and even hand-delivering Johnny’s things to him.

(Side note: when Cherry visited the Curtis home and said “Johnny’s mother never claim his things”, someone behind me gasped at that. Me too, girl. Me too 😢)

Steve & Two-Bit — Jordan Chin & Henry Julián Gendron

Sooooo I actually don’t have much to say about Steve and Two-Bit because the show didn’t have much to say with Steve and Two-Bit. They hardly had any lines and they didn’t do anything except dance and fight. It was honestly really disappointing. And maybe it was for the sake of the story, which I understand. This is Ponyboy’s story, and he didn’t always have much to say about either of them. But, they were still important characters. Two-Bit cared a lot for Ponyboy after he returned in the book and movie, same with Johnny as he went to go visit him and was even crying when he confronted Johnny’s dead-beat mother. Steve was an important in Sodapop’s life. You can’t tell me that Steve wasn’t there comforting Soda when Sandy cheated. You can’t tell me he wasn’t there when Ponyboy ran away. He definitely was, but they never showed it. These are the two characters out of the whole bunch that literally never get any good rep and it sucks, because they are such good characters.

I’m gonna give the musical the benefit of the doubt — like I mentioned before — and that it was for the sake of time, pacing, story progression, etc. But hopefully you get the point I’m trying to make ?

Ace — Milena J. Comeau

I was shocked when the curtains opened and I saw a Greaser girl. I thought she was gonna be ensemble, but no, she was a legitimate member of the Curtis gang. She also didn’t have a bunch of lines. She just danced and fought a lot. But, props to her actor, because she is a beautiful dancer. She was so smooth with her movements, she traveled the stage so fluidly. I wish that they did more with her character, only because I didn’t exactly know what her role was within the gang. I actually don’t even know why she was added in the first place. Once again, nothing much was probably done with her for the sake of the show progression, but still.

Sodapop — Jason Schmidt

Dude. He was hot.

His shirt of off for like the first 10 minutes of the show, and I was just 😍 the whole time.

Anyways, onto his actual character.

I really loved what they did with Sodapop. Creds to the actor, but also creds to the writers.

In the book, the boys didn’t curse, like at all (and granted, this was written from a 14yo perspective. let’s be so fr, cursing was still an uncomfortable thing at 13/14). They would curse, but they were hardly ever written out in dialogue, Ponyboy would just say “and then he started cursing a bunch”. Anyways, I actually really enjoyed the fact that they included language in the musical. It made it feel more like a bunch of poor, teenage boys in the 60s. Even the things they’d say. Like, during “Grease Got A Hold” Sodapop was talking about girls and idk if it’s in the recording but istg, watching it live he said something about pussy, and like… implying something with sex. I don’t exactly remember but yeah. That felt very real. :)

I thought it was interesting how Sandy wasn’t mentioned as cheating on him, but simply breaking up and moving away. But, they also literally did not mention what happened between the two in the movie. So whatever.

I liked how they showed more of how much of a mediator Sodapop is. Every time Darry and Pony would fight and Darry would get worked up, he’d make sure that Darry doesn’t get too close to Pony and tries to calm him down. Ngl, it definitely looked awkward watching him trying to calm Darry down, but that’s also because (in my opinion) it’s one of the harder things to do on stage and make it seem real. Irl, Soda would be talking Darry down, and interrupting. He can’t exactly do that on stage. But, that’s not really a critique, just something I noticed bc it stuck out to me. Maybe I’m inexperienced, but I can’t think of a much better way to do that.

His character was much deeper as well. It was clear just how emotionally intelligent he is, but that he isn’t exactly book smart. He was funny, and they did play into some of the “dumb guy” humor, but they also had him be actually funny. Just like a 16yo boy would be.

Darry — Victor Carrillo Tracey

Darry seemed a lot more stern in the musical ??? Not necessarily in a bad way though. ? I’ve heard that people agree with that statement, but more or less as in “oh Darry’s the worst. He told Ponyboy that it would be better if he — Darry — left him, and that Pony would be ‘one less thing to worry about.’” But I don’t think that that’s him being mean.

Darry is 20yo. He had a full-ride scholarship for football, and had to throw it all away to care for his brothers. It was selfless what he did. He could’ve just allowed them to be put into foster care, but he didn’t because those are his brothers. So, he started working two jobs. He put everything he had into those boys, and made a lot of sacrifices in his personal life. So, yeah, when Darry is at his breaking point in “Runs In The Family (Reprise)” he’s going to talk about how much better his life would be if he could get what he wanted. If he could spend his days with a lady by his side, if he could’ve gone on to be successful in life. Darry isn’t Ponyboy’s dad — if that we’re the case, yeah, then Darry actually would be the worst character. Darry’s just a kid. He was a teenager not that long ago.

Does that make sense?

And, I don’t want to sound like a shitty person when saying that, bc I definitely how that could come off. I say it because I relate to it. Now, my parents aren’t dead, and it’s not like I was given the worst childhood either — just shitty circumstances. I’m the eldest sibling, just like Darry, and at times it felt like I was given too much responsibility on caring for my younger siblings. At times, I did think “oh it would be easier if I could just move out. I wouldn’t have this burden.” I think when I was 12 I even contemplated running away LMAOO

So, I don’t hate him, but I do sympathize with him. Because I know that what he’s doing isn’t easy.

And it’s clear that he does care for Ponyboy, because in “Throwing In The Towel” he shares how he’s feeling to Sodapop. How worried he is for Pony, how horrible he feels about what he did, he’s blaming himself for everything, he thinks that it would be better if he just wasn’t around. Yk what I mean?

Anyways

I liked his character. Like I’ve been saying; the character feels more real. The emotions Darry was portraying, the words he was saying — that’s everything a 20yo, working two jobs to provide for his brothers, who’s given up everything, at his breaking point looks like. I think Tracey did a great job here. Props to him

Johnny — Josh Strobl

For a few minutes into the show, I did not think that I’d like his character. He was much more talkative than what I was used to that I was taken aback. But, I quickly changed my mind. His character was really good. And it goes back to what I was saying about the characters feeling more real, more like actual teenagers. Johnny wouldn’t have been shaking like a scared dog all the time, stuttering and stumbling over his words in fear, having a panic attack every three hours. Maybe some of that was true to some degree, but the degree that this particular fandom paints him in. Y’all think he’s completely helpless. He definitely wouldn’t have been. Yes, he would still have anxiety, yes, he’d still suffer with depression (bc, let’s be honest, he definitely would have).

Johnny camped outside his house to make sure his dad wouldn’t kill his mom. He was still able to joke around and actually talk to people.

Musical-Johnny felt more like what a real person would go through. Still suffering, but not helpless.

Anyways. I need to make a critique. Before I say this, I do understand that I watched the understudy cast. I am well aware — as someone who has done double-casted shows before — that the understudy cast doesn’t get the same stage time/rehearsal time that the main cast does. I also understand that the ensemble doesn’t always get to perform that often. They don’t have set performances like the main cast does, they just fill in when needed.

That being said, I think I have this critique because Strobl (if I had to guess) didn’t have enough time to properly learn his character. Giving the benefit of the doubt here, I didn’t like the way he delivered his lines. I noticed it specifically at the end, when Johnny’s on his death bed. Ralph Macchio did a great job acting like he was dying — you could hear it in his voice. Strobl sounded normal. And, yes, that might have been for the sake of articulation and actually being able to hear what he’s saying. But… there were still things that he could’ve done. He was monotone delivering his characters dying words. Johnny had burns all over him, he has inhaled so much smoke, he was paralyzed. But he sounds like normal?

Idk he just sounded like he didn’t care to be there.

Dallas — Joshua Boone

I think that this was the best iteration of Dallas across the board.

Once again, the musical made him feel like a real person. He wasn’t just Tulsa’s infamous bad-boy. He was also really close with Johnny and Ponyboy. He cared for them. His care for those boys (ESPECIALLY JOHNNY) was clearly shown in the musical. Dallas just seems pissed off the whole time in the movie. Like yeah, he cares, but he’s also got mad attitude.

I loved that they made it clear how he views Johnny, and Ponyboy even. Called them his brothers. Even told Darry that he’s more of a brother to Ponyboy than Darry ever will be, because Dallas actually spends time with him.

Trust me trust me trust me — i am going to talking about Dallas’ suicide scene, bc I have a lot to say about it. But, I have a section further down where I talk about specific scenes that I want to talk about. There will I discuss this.

Ponyboy — Trevor Wayne

OK WE MADE IT TO PONYBOYYY

I freaking loved Musical-Ponyboy. Once again, as I’ve said it a thousand times already; he seemed much more like a 14yo boy in the musical. Idk what made him so boy-ish specifically, but I’m pretty sure it was that damn shirt ��

I loved the narration throughout the show.

He had such an angelic voice

He was so funny

ABHHH

I loved how well he portrayed Ponyboy absolutely grief-stricken. The depression he was facing. UGH I live for it. The spacing out, the not talking. The lashing out even. Beautiful.

Dude and Trevor was so sweet too. I got to meet him after the show.

(Y’all idk why I have like nothing to say about him. Ik I do, I just can’t think rn omllll. I’ll come up with something, i SWEAR!!! I’ll come back with an edit)

I Must Talk About These Scenes

Dally’s Suicide

Ok, this is gonna sound morbid… but I really liked it. It’s impact hit me much harder than it ever did in the book/movie — and that shit hurt the first time I read it.

I went into this musical completely blind. Didn’t want to know the plot, didn’t listen the cast album, scrolled past most of the promo videos online. So… I was definitely shocked as I watched Dallas jump in front of a train.

So, I did a little bit of digging, and apparently they changed how Dally died because they didn’t want to being politics into the show — police brutality. Which, I get it. But… let’s be honest. You’ve got a show that is very much about how hard the Greasers have it versus the Socs. How much the Socs can get away with, and what very little the Greasers get away with. They said that they were particular in their casting — Socs were all white, while the Greasers had a heavy POC cast. So, if you’re trying to make a point about he unfairness of life these boys faced, it wouldn’t have been the most shocking thing to have the police shoot Dallas. But, that being said, I also didn’t hate it. Like I mentioned earlier, Dallas’ grotesque ending hit me much harder.

To sit there and watched as Ponyboy narrates Dallas’ final moments, the thoughts that could’ve been going through his head, how Ponyboy pictured what his last actions or words were — I mean, my heart was racing, I couldn’t look away, and I was sitting there thinking, “there’s no way a train’s gonna be his death.” And then it was. It was loud. It was bright, then quickly blacked-out. When the lights come up again, Ponyboy retells what happened to Dallas as he got hit. Pieces of him flew everywhere. The train derailed.

It’s such an awful way to go. Horrifying. Scary. I think it’s one thing to get shot to death. It’s a whole other thing to stand there and watch as a train slowly comes after you.

The Rumble

HOLY FUCKING SHITT

The fight choreo was amazing, and then the synchronized punching and getting kicked down was just 😫

I loved the way that they had Johnny in that scene too. I saw him show up out of literally nowhere in his regular clothing, then fucking disappear so smoothly. AND THEN HE REAPPEARS AGAIN ON HIS HOSPITAL BED AND GOWN SO QUICKLY?!?? EHAT?!?! I need to know how they did that. How did they get that set together so quickly? How did they get Johnny to change so quickly? Did they have a seperate actor? Or is this dude literally the Flash?

Anyways, I was fucking gripping my seat handles and leaning over my seat freaking the fuck out over that beautiful transition.

UHM THE FUCKING RAIN?!?!

Ik I already talked about this — but it was SO COOL to see irl. I loved it so much. I mean, I truly cannot think of any other production doing something like that, unless I just am not as well-versed in the theatre world as I thought I was lol

It was such a cool scene

Church Burning

I mentioned the pyrotechnics of this scene earlier, but honestly the whole thing was impressive. The projections, the beams being used to throw the whole thing falling apart and just showing the overall chaos. It was awesome.

Darry & Dallas Fight

Yeahhhh ummmmm I didn’t like that :/

I wasn’t like “oh wow this is so out of character and strange, this doesn’t make any sense to be in here”, bc to some degree I could see how worried Darry would get onto Dallas for hiding where his younger brother is. But I don’t think Darry’s proud enough to get into a physical alteration with him over it. He definitely would think that he’s “too old to fight” and that he could be saving his energy focused on finding his brother and being able to work so he can provide for his family.

And maybe it’s because I haven’t read the book in forever, and the fact that the two never really interacted in either the book or movie, but I feel I’ve seen it somewhere that Dallas and Darry actually had a decent relationship. Or that Dallas looked up to Darry ??? Am I crazy? Did I just make that up ? or was that actually said lmaoooo

Anyways, found it a little strange. I’m gonna chalk up finding this interaction weird to the book being all in Ponyboy’s POV, therefore the writers had to really reach to get the audience to understand what the other characters were going through. If that makes sense??

I think if this did happen, they would start almost punching each other. Darry’s too responsible. And I think he cares too much for his friends — even if it is Dallas Winston.

Sodapop + Ponyboy Talking In Bed

bro this scene was so funny. I literally only wanted to mention this scene because I can’t stop thinking about:

SP: “What are you reading?”

PB: “It’s a book called Great Expectations.”

SP: “How many pages is it?”

PB: “544–“

SP: “FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR FUCKING PAGES?!?!?!… that would take me ten years to read.”

The Ending — The Curtis Brothers

I loved the connection that was finally formed at the end between the brothers.

I liked the acting here. Ponyboy hasn’t spoken hardly a word this whole time. Now, all of a sudden, he’s asking his brothers if they want to read his book. Darry and Soda, who’ve been waiting for him at the dinner table, slowly — in shock — turn to him. UGH I LOVED THAT!

And when Darry said “can I read it too?” and Pony just goes “really? You want to read it?” He expected Darry not to care. But he did.

When Pony physically lashed out at Darry, Sodapop breaks it up and he finally breaks. But… it felt very rushed. Sodapop had some very real feelings, and while everyone agreed to try to do better, I would’ve liked for them to focus on Soda a bit more. The movie did it beautifully. They took their time, we watched as Pony and Darry finally fully realize how much they’re tearing their family apart. How badly it’s impacting them — how it’s affecting their own brother. The musical definitely rushed it.

But other than that, it was so heartwarming

Final Thoughts

All in all, this show exceeded my already great expectations for it (FULL FUCKING PUN INTENDED, i think i’m so funny).

I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to watch this brilliant show.

Listening to these beautiful voices, I had goosebumps all throughout the songs, especially Great Expectations. Trevor Wayne has a spectacular voice, and those high notes in that song was soooo good

I want to watch this show again and again. I also would like the see the OG cast. But, I’m definitely not complaining with what I got.

Ok. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk :) if I remember anything else, I’ll edit this post.

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