{"id":431338,"date":"2022-04-14T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/barry-manilows-musical-has-flaws-but-stellar-singing\/"},"modified":"2022-04-14T04:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-04-14T01:00:00","slug":"barry-manilows-musical-has-flaws-but-stellar-singing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/barry-manilows-musical-has-flaws-but-stellar-singing\/","title":{"rendered":"#Barry Manilow&#8217;s musical has flaws, but stellar singing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2ddaaf2f5f6\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2ddaaf2f5f6\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/barry-manilows-musical-has-flaws-but-stellar-singing\/#%E2%80%9CBarry_Manilows_musical_has_flaws_but_stellar_singing%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Barry Manilow&#8217;s musical has flaws, but stellar singing&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CBarry_Manilows_musical_has_flaws_but_stellar_singing%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Barry Manilow&#8217;s musical has flaws, but stellar singing&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<p>Barry Manilow\u2019s new musical \u201cHarmony\u201d could begin with the lyric: His name was Josef! He was a rabbi!<\/p>\n<p>The melody from \u201cCopacabana\u201d isn\u2019t found here \u2014 this isn\u2019t a jukebox show \u2014 but the tunefulness the singer is known for abounds. It\u2019s some of the better quality stage scores of the theater season.<\/p>\n<p>Manilow\u2019s musical, which opened Wednesday night off-Broadway (the composer tested positive for COVID and sadly couldn\u2019t attend), has a lot going for it. The drama is about a little-known, fascinating piece of World War II history that will have audiences racing to Google at intermission. Manilow\u2019s score, with lyrics by Bruce Sussman, is pretty and occasionally touching. And all of the singers are sensational.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Still, there is some discord.<\/p>\n<div class=\"inline-module inline-module--review alignleft\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n        <span class=\"inline-module--review__eyebrow widget-heading-semi__label\"><br \/>\n            Theater review      <\/span><\/p>\n<p>        2 hour and 30 minutes with one intermission. At the Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Pl. Through May 8.\n    <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cHarmony,\u201d which has been floating around the US for more than three decades, tells the story of the Co<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>n Harmonists, a popular German jokey music group in the 1920s that was almost lost to time after Hitler rose to power.<\/p>\n<p>The group played Carnegie Hall and palled around with Albert Einstein, Josephine Baker and Marlene Dietrich. They toured all over the world, sold millions of records and made some seven films. Three of the members were Jewish or of Jewish descent, while the other three were gentiles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Josef (Danny Kornfeld) is called Rabbi because he left the Torah to go on tour; he\u2019s joined by a blood-hating surgeon (Eric Peters), a whorehouse pianist (Blake Roman), an opera bass (Sean Bell), a Bulgarian (Steven Telsey) and an actor (Zal Owen).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-01.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"The Comedian Harmonists are played by Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters and Sean Bell.\" class=\"wp-image-21895420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-01.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-01.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-01.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The Comedian Harmonists are played by Blake Roman, Steven Telsey, Zal Owen, Danny Kornfeld, Eric Peters and Sean Bell.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Julieta Cervantes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>They all sing sublimely, together and apart \u2014 and are formidable yuksters. But it\u2019s Roman, who\u2019s just out of school, that\u2019s the most incredible find. He has a soothing, soulful solo in Act 2 that\u2019s unfortunately cut short. It could\u2019ve h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ily gone on forever.<\/p>\n<p>The complexity of the show arrives when German Jews are s<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>ped of their rights throughout the country, and Jewish music is banned, but Hitler allows the Comedian Harmonists to keep performing anyway. The group, the Third Reich decides, can act as propaganda for Nazi Germany abroad. <\/p>\n<p>While the musical\u2019s greatest asset is the sextet of musicians, the real lead is veteran actor Chip Zien playing Rabbi (and some other hilarious surprise characters) in old age.<\/p>\n<p>The narrator role is a new addition to the show, directed by Warren Carlyle, presumably to lend some gravitas and perspective \u2014 and Zien is in excellent form. But the role\u2019s inclusion both spoils his character\u2019s eventual fate (he\u2019s obviously not an angel) and gives everything a stuffy air of nostalgia.\u00a0We\u2019re always looking back.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-10.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Chip Zien narrates &quot;Harmony&quot; as Rabbi in old age. \" class=\"wp-image-21895443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical-10.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Chip Zien narrates \u201cHarmony\u201d as Rabbi in old age. <\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Julieta Cervantes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The book, by Manilow\u2019s longtime collaborator Sussman, also tends to jump to extremes. A large portion of the first act is spent introducing us to the six Comedian Harmonists in a catchy but long opening number. They then have a blink-and-you-miss-it sequence of being unknowns and \u2014 hey presto! \u2014 are suddenly world-famous. The Borscht Belt jokes throughout are fun, but there are a few too many.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Two roles that could use more meat are the wives, played by Sierra Boggess and Jessie Davidson. Conflicted about their husbands\u2019 roles in Germany\u2019s moral downfall, they\u2019re potentially fascinating. Yet, however gorgeous their music is, the parts come off as slight.<\/p>\n<p>As does the design. Beowulf Boritt\u2019s set of TV screens and minimal furniture surely is hamstrung by a downtown budget. It would be nice to see something more transportive and evocative.<\/p>\n<p>So \u201cHarmony\u201d\u2019s long journey continues. But with Manilow\u2019s fine music, and this extraordinary company of actors, it\u2019s worth the extra mileage.\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/04\/13\/harmony-review-barry-manilows-musical-has-flaws-but-stellar-singing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Barry Manilow&#8217;s musical has flaws, but stellar singing&#8221; Barry Manilow\u2019s new musical \u201cHarmony\u201d could begin with the lyric: His name was Josef! He was a rabbi! The melody from \u201cCopacabana\u201d isn\u2019t found here \u2014 this isn\u2019t a jukebox show \u2014 but the tunefulness the singer is known for abounds. It\u2019s some of the better quality&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":431339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/harmony-broadway-musical.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[127945,111915,72707,101414,70731],"class_list":["post-431338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-4-13-22","tag-barry-manilow","tag-musicals","tag-off-broadway","tag-theater-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431338"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431338\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}