Printer Friendly - Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-24 17:35:15
I may be going to see this within the upcoming month on B-Way. Are any of you familiar with the music/production? How was your experience? On a secondary note, I have also heard that Adam Pascal may be touring with the show in the case that it is a success...however, this may also be complete hogwash. But I thought I'd ask anyhow!
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Broadway Joe 2012-06-24 17:40:29
I didn't really care for it but I didn't hate it like the majority do on here.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by qolbinau 2012-06-24 17:53:16
Agree with Broadway Joe. Think I would have really enjoyed it with Pascal though (I had two understudies for Chad both times), I would go back to see him..
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-24 18:11:15
Of what I've heard of the music(which admittedly isn't all that much) I actually enjoyed it...? The plot seems a little overdone but I am huge Pascal fan, so I figure it's worth a viewing, while I'm up there anyway. Thanks both of you!
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by luvtheEmcee 2012-06-24 18:18:53
I saw the show when it first opened, and it didn't do much for me, but I had fun while I was there and it was innocuous and was glad I saw it. I never really thought I'd have occasion to go back until I found out Adam would be stepping in as Huey. I've been a huge fan of Adam's since I was a kid, and went back to the show about six weeks into his run. He is tremendously good -- and if I didn't know any better, I'd have thought the part was written for him. It's a playful, goofy, sweet performance that's unlike anything I've seen him do before, and he knocks the score out of the park. His performance really changed the whole experience of the show for me, and I've honestly come to genuinely like it a lot. I don't live in New York anymore, but I try to make it to the Shubert to see him whenever I am back East. I've seen him play Huey a handful of times now, and he just keeps getting better and better. I don't know anything about the possibility that he'll tour, but he's set to be with the Broadway production at least through October. If you're a fan, I definitely say go see it.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by bwayphreak234 2012-06-24 18:28:42
I watched it on Netflix and did not care for it. Chad Kimball was one of my main problems with the show. I am looking forward to seeing the tour without him though. i do like some of the music.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-24 18:37:45
I will most definitely have to check it out then, thanks for the recco!
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Mr Roxy 2012-06-24 18:39:52
I saw it when many on the board were comparing it to a dog turd.Than the reviews came out. Found it very enjoyable.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-24 18:45:06
WHAT? Memphis is on Netflix?! I have no life, all I do is watch old episodes of How I Met Your Mother on there, all the while it was in the company of a production I was planning to see. Well, damn it, I fail. And I'm hoping with Adam in lead it'll be better than it was with Kimball although I've always liked him as an actor, at least.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-24 18:48:17
Haha, I tend to be the same when it comes to musicals. Can't bring myself to love the raved, can't bring myself to hate the ones I know are ruptured cow pies but am attached to nonetheless.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by JamesBroadwayWiner 2012-06-24 21:16:11
I saw it on tour, and LOVED IT!!!!! It is a deep show that envokes emotion, but just as equally it is a fun, splashy musical! Deffinatley go see it!
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by californiasnow 2012-06-24 21:47:36
I saw it on Netflix and then saw the tour. It's not a great show by any means (some of the lyrics are reallllly bad), but it's definitely entertaining. Speaking to the OP's post, I doubt Adam will tour with it, since the tour has already been up and running for a year and has played a lot of the bigger markets already. Having said that, Bryan Fenkart (who went on for Chad over 200 times) was fantastic as Huey, so if you see the tour he will not disappoint.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Bwaydide92 2012-06-24 22:30:21
I also watched it on Netflix and found it painful to watch. I don't know if it's because I started to hate Chad Kimball about five minutes in, but I had to force myself to finish it. I haven't seen Pascal or much of what he's done with the role. I hope it's not like Kimball's Huey. The way he portrayed it was like he was calling Southerners retards (I know that's offensive to say, and that's how he made me feel. Offended. And I'm not Southern or White). He may have made me hate the rest of the show, but I just didn't find the story that compelling. I personally wouldn't waste money on it.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by luvtheEmcee 2012-06-25 00:52:50
Adam's performance completely eradicates all of that stuff Chad was doing that made Huey seem a bit, well, special needs. Which was never a choice I really understood anyway, so I was glad to see Adam go his own way with the part.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Bwaydide92 2012-06-25 01:13:11
I think what bugged me most about his performance was that he seemed to be making fun of special needs people. Like he was saying "Hey look I'm retarded". It WASN'T like say Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape where that's just a part of the character. All of Kimball's choices seemed to be about him not be fully there mentally. If he wanted to play it special needs, he did it wrong.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by dramamama611 2012-06-25 07:11:05
Yet? It's almost 3 years running!
I thought it was a waste of time. One of those shows that WANTED to be important, but really had nothing knew to say. I loathed Chad Kimball (but disagree he was making fun of anyone). His choice made absolutely NO sense.
I have, indeed, heard that Pascal is a huge improvement, but the rest of the show is too mediocre to even consider sitting through again.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by MotorTink 2012-06-25 09:26:00
The show itself was enjoyable and fun but nothing "spectacular". However, Pascal's performance made it fantastic (I had an u/s for Montego but she was excellent).
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by D2 2012-06-25 09:28:28
^^What Tink said.^^ 
ETA: "nothing knew to say."
Really?
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by macnyc 2012-06-25 11:42:19
My taste is probably more middle of the road than that of most people here. I really enjoyed Memphis. I saw it a couple of months ago with Pascal's understudy, Kevin Massey, in the lead and I thought he was fantastic. The dancing is phenomenal, the staging beautiful, and I liked the setting a lot. Most of the songs are enjoyable and very well sung, and I thought it was a perfectly fine way to spend two and a half hours.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Blockhead24 2012-06-25 12:06:54
I love Kevin's Huey-- by far my favorite in the role. I saw him with Dan'yelle and they were fabulous.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by macnyc 2012-06-25 12:37:20
^^^ That's good to know. When we entered the theater, I was sad at first to be missing Pascal's performance. But it shows you how deep the talent on Broadway is when an understudy is so excellent.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by kikki327 2012-06-25 13:26:49
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/fresh_blood_on_broadway_l2T31cTvfz0mygZG9drNCL
Memphis is a textbook example of how a new leads drastically different take on a part can affect a partner.
The Tony-nominated Chad Kimball had a sneaky charm as Huey Calhoun, making that disc jockey a bit of a colorful hustler.
Adam Pascal Roger, the romantic, HIV-positive guitarist in the original Rent plays Huey like an overgrown eager beaver, goofily enthusiastic about the R&B music he spins on the radio.
As a consequence, Huey has zero sexual zing with Montego Glovers Felicia, the aspiring singer. Maybe to compensate, Glover now overacts broadly, a caricature of the nuanced performer she was in the early days.
On the plus side, though, Pascal sings beautifully his incredible rendition of Memphis Lives in Me is a real tear-jerker.
Verdict: Those whove seen Memphis before may find a return trip worthwhile. Newbies will enjoy the singing and dancing, still tight and energetic 2 1/2 years after opening night.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Mister Matt 2012-06-25 14:04:03
Saw the tour and really enjoyed it. Not the greatest thing I've ever seen, but I certainly didn't think it was worthy of the constant derision that gets thrown about around here whenever the title comes up for discussion. It's a solid, conventional book musical. It may not be revelatory, but I found it entertaining and could easily see why people enjoy it and I find myself revisiting the cast recording often.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by jpbran 2012-06-25 14:18:44
The thread title makes me laugh, considering it's played Broadway 2-3 years, had a national tour, played movie theaters, is on disc/streaming, (inexplicably) won the Tony AND this is a Broadway site. 
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-25 18:29:44
Haha, I meant with Pascal as Huey, not the actual show. But I should have specified.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-06-25 18:33:16
I meant with Pascal as lead. However, I have heard so many mixed reviews of whether or not he improved it. I wasn't actually very interested in it when it debuted, not to mention when I saw the reviews bashing Kimball's performance...
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by luvcaroline 2012-06-25 19:20:00
We saw this shortly after it opened on Broadway with the original cast and thought that it was OK, but something about it just left us feeling a bit empty. We saw the touring production about a month ago and had a MUCH better experience: it seemed more vibrant, grittier, and the cast seemed to be much more committed to the material. One of our more satisfying theatre-going experiences of late, actually.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by kikki327 2012-06-26 10:43:17
When Memphis opened, I had no desire to see it. After watching their 2010 Tony performance, I really had no desire to see it. Last year I was in the city with my friends and had run out of options for a matinee, and ended up with front row rush tickets to Memphis. I had no idea what to expect, and frankly, was not expecting much. 2 hours later, I had found one of my favorite musicals I had ever seen, and went back to see it 5 more times. I enjoyed the show tremendously, (I LOVE the choreography) and I honestly think it had a lot to do with Chad Kimball's performance. I consider myself lucky to have seen Chad perform 5 out my 6 Memphis trips in the midst of his injury. Chad's understudy was good, but my heart did not break for his Huey as it does for Chad's. His choices, though a bit strange, showed me how deep his character transformation really was. Chad put so much heart into his Huey that I did not get from Kevin or the videos I have seen of Adam. Adam may be fantastic, but as much as I love Memphis, I can not see myself returning to the Shubert, as I want my final Memphis memory to be of Huey himself, Chad Kimball. I usually love seeing new cast members' take on a role, but there is just something so special about this show to me.
But, to each his own :)
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Bettyboy72 2012-06-26 11:02:15
The 'special needs' references really bother me. It's so disrespectful, especially since Chad's characterization was not developmentally disabled, but rather emotionally stunted, introverted and rebellious. I thought his work was very good.
He was an outcast-poor, uneducated and lived at home with his mom. He didn't have friends and lost himself in music. He understood oppression. Felicia was a woman of color with a gift she though no one would ever experience outside of a black club. They "got" each other.
Pascal plays the role too cool and it hurts the story.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by kikki327 2012-06-26 11:16:24
Bettyboy, that is a perfect description of the difference between Chad's Huey and Adams.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Pauly3 2012-06-29 20:25:18
Saw the recording of Memphis (with Chad Kimball) on Netflix and thought it was decent, even worth watching again at some point. I didn't dislike the way Huey was portrayed.....even thought maybe the guy the role is somewhat based on (Dewey Phillips) might have had some of the same mannerisms. I haven't found anything to suggest Dewey Phillips was anything like that, and if not, I don't care - doesn't matter.
Saw the tour with Bryan Fenkart and really enjoyed the show. Everyone in the cast was excellent - and the music, storyline and staging were all completely and thoroughly enjoyable. Will see it again if able. Bryan's portrayal is very different, but it was excellent without any too-peculiar mannerisms.
I liked the tour so much and wanted to recapture the sound of the experience, something Netflix couldn't do, so I purchased the Blu-ray of Memphis. I was not disappointed in the least. The picture and sound are top notch. Although I don't love some of the seemingly annoying quirks, I loved Chad Kimball's portrayal overall. He portrays the illiterate, pathetic, stuborn, empathetic, funny and likeable Huey Calhoun exactly these ways. He sings well too. I can't fathom why anyone would hate him.
The show is good entertainment. It doesn't have to be classy or classic or whatever to be entertaining. It's a very good time, and I would love to have had the chance to see Adam Pascal on Broadway. If you get the chance and are remotely interested, go.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by luvtheEmcee 2012-06-29 20:37:46
It's worth saying that Huey is only loosely loosely loosely based on Dewey Phillips (and a little bit on Alan Freed). The show's a pretty far cry from being biographical. I agree -- doesn't matter as far as my feelings on the show (or the characterization, for that matter), but felt it worth mentioning since it came up. If you Google around there are some interesting audio recordings of Phillips on the radio.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by yankeefan7 2012-06-30 08:23:57
BigMamaSangTenor- I saw it last summer with original cast. Montgomery Glover's performance is worth the price of admission, ensemble cast is quite good also. I don't get the Chad Kimball bashing, thought he did a good job potraying a eccentric charachter. I love Adam Pascal and sure he will be fantastic vocally in this role. Is it the best musical I ever saw, the answer is no but it still was entertaining and think you will have a good time.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Jon 2012-06-30 09:00:06
I've decided that Kimball must have based his performance on Ernest T. Bass fromt he Andy Griffith Show. See the link below:
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by CockeyedOptimist2 2012-06-30 09:03:10
Have nothing to add to this discussion as I haven't seen Memphis, but I do love anybody how can make an Ernest T. Bass reference!
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by ThatShortBlondeChick 2012-07-01 21:01:18
I've just recently seen Memphis with Pascal as the lead. I thought his acting was phenomenal and the choreography was amazing. It's a good musical if your looking for something with a blues/rock score and a feel-good vibe throughout the performance.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by BigMamaSangTenor 2012-07-04 22:18:05
Thanks for the feedback! :)
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by JRybka 2012-07-05 12:10:12
I had no desire to see it any of the times I have been to NY. Then, I saw it on netflix and really enjoyed it. I actually liked it much more then I thought I would. I have actually watched it a couple more times sense then.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by GilmoreGirlO2 2013-01-08 12:45:51
Forgive me for resurrecting an older thread, but I recently watched Memphis on Netflix and was reading old discussion threads on it and thought it would be better to revive one than start another, as some of the issues I had with it are discussed in this thread.
Overall, the show was bland, all the songs sounded the same, and the flow was extremely odd (especially the transition into the ending song). It should not have a Tony to its name, but I understand that there was not much competition that year. It is clear they were trying to say something important, but I think they could have achieved this better if they took themselves a little lighter and just let the story say what it needed to, instead of the entire show making it clear what we were supposed to take away from it.
My biggest, issue, however, was Chad Kimball. While I dont think he was making fun of the mentally disabled, I went through the show actually thinking the character was supposed to be mentally disabled and, at some point, it would be revealed. When that didnt happen and I realized this was just an acting choice, it angered me, as it was extremely distracting (particularly his speaking).
I was completely surprised by the article that says Chad had a sneaky charm and, therefore, good sexual tension with Montego Glover, because while I was watching the show I also genuinely thought that Felicia was using him to get on the radio (or, if it wasnt a conscious choice, that was the main thing that attracted her to Huey), due to the fact that I could not fathom why Felicia would ever find Huey (in the way that Chad portrayed it) attractive. He came off as a slow, 13 year old boy and I didnt believe Felicia would see anything in him. From the reviews I have read of Adams portrayal, it seems like it would make much more sense why Felicia is drawn to him.
Bettyboy, further up this thread, says that Chads portrayal was not developmentally disabled, but rather emotionally stunted, introverted and rebellious. I agree that Huey is emotionally stunted (which, perhaps, Pascals Huey may have not been emotionally stunted enough), but I do think what Chad was doing was more on the mentally disabled side. I missed the eccentricity of the character (it didnt come off quirky to me) because of this. And, if what he was doing was emotionally stunted, then I dont think the writing supports Huey being stunted to that degree.
Perhaps what upsets me the most is that it is clear that Chad is a great actor, I just could not get on board with this acting choice (and it was such an extreme acting choice that it made it extremely hard to look past). He had some great, genuine moments, but I was unable to fully appreciate them, as while those moments made sense for the written character, they made no sense for the character that Chad was portraying.
Im intrigued if this choice began with Chad or if he was directed toward it.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Pauly3 2013-01-08 15:40:33
As stated previously, I wasn't all too impressed by my first viewing of Memphis on Netflix, but I didn't think it was bland. After several more viewings (mostly on Blu-ray) and now two instances of seeing the live show (not with Chad), I have found Memphis to be anything but bland. Watching the Blu-ray, on a big screen with a decent sound system, is often very different than watching on Netflix. Seeing it live is completely different.
Regarding Chad Kimball's choices in portraying a fictional character, why must Huey be mentally disabled (or revealed to be) to prevent you from being angry? If it was written in to reveal a mental disability, would that make it better for you?
I work with some very quirky people, and they are people many of us like and get along with very much. The fact you're angry because of an acting choice to be quirky is, if not completely offensive, bordering on it. I'm offended for the friends I have that are quirky. They are good hearted honest people, much like Huey was portrayed by Chad Kimball.
Don't like the show and feel free to disagree with the way Huey is played, fine. But being angered by it? Perhaps you used the wrong term?
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by GilmoreGirlO2 2013-01-09 09:19:44
I am sure I would be able to appreciate the singing and dancing more in the theatre, but the basic written story I think is weak and flawed.
And, regarding Chads portrayal of Huey, I think you misunderstood me.
What made me angry was that the way he played the character was extremely distracting. When I thought the character had a mental disability, I thought this distraction played a purpose. When I realized this was not the case, it angered me that someone who has the talent Chad clearly has choose such an extreme to play (that I do not think is supported by the book) that I was distracted the whole show and unable to accept or believe the events of the show due to that one choice. It angers me that I think Chad could have been really great in the show had he not taken this choice to such an extreme (an extreme to where I honestly was not able to even understand the character).
Please understand, being quirky is not the issue here at all. (If we didnt love quirky people, I dont think any of us would be interested in or doing theatre!) If I got the impression that what Chad was playing as Huey was quirky, I would have had no issue (as I said in my previous post, it didnt come off quirky to me) obviously, Huey is written to be quirky. That is his charm, that is a reason Felicia is attracted to him, thats how got to be where he got to be. And, therein lies my issue with Chads portrayal: to me, his portrayal did not come off quirky, it came off as though there was something mentally off with him.
Im sorry if my review made you think I was damning anyone who is quirky or tries to play a character outside the box this was not my intention or thoughts at all. I appreciate both, but just did not get that from Chads performance. And, like I said, he is such a talent, it did anger me that that talent wasnt put to good use, in my opinion (he had some really excellent moments, but where he excelled seemed to be in such contrast with the character he was playing, I didnt believe it for his portrayal of Huey. Had he toned it down, those moments would have gelled extremely well and what I would have taken away from the character would have been much different).
Obviously, to each his own, this was just my experience with Chads Huey.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Roscoe 2013-01-09 09:42:07
I saw the show fairly late in previews, and can say that Kimball's performance was, at that stage, at least somewhat connected to something approaching actual human behavior: the guy was a bit of a cartoon, but he was supposed to be a bit larger than life anyway. It kind of worked, even if I never for a minute understood what on earth Montego Glover's character saw in him.
The video on Netflix was made toward the end of Kimball's Broadway run, when he'd just gone completely over the top, coming off like some brain-damaged version of George W. Bush. I found it just plain unwatchable.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by beautywickedlover 2013-01-09 11:27:57
I say the national tour in May 2012 and I really enjoyed it. The performances were excellent and so was the music. I also thought the book was very well-done.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Becky 2013-01-09 20:21:58
My distraction in Chad's performance was his addition of this hum/moan sound at the end of words and phrases. "Memphis-uh"
Otherwise I could have really liked him.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by Pauly3 2013-01-09 21:45:21
Understood. Well, sort of. To each his own, absolutely. But I don't understand some of the hatred aimed at Chad (by more than just one or two) or really the simple dislike - or reasons for it. To me, Chad was very clearly simply quirky. Yes, he was illiterate and may lack social skills - and he had some pretty strange mannerisms. I can see why that can be distracting. I don't find it difficult to get past it though. I also don't see it as a poor choice from an acting or directional perspective. But that's just another opinion.
For those who like the degree of quirkyness portrayed - or at least aren't bothered by it, I don't think it unreasonable to find it endearing at times. Those nice genuine momements that don't include so much quirk seem to work really well....but maybe that's because he is, outwardly, somewhat pathetic. It turns out he isn't so pathetic when he becomes impassioned, such as when he evolves into something more than an uneducated "picked on" type when he talks (sings) about music or when he becomes so attentive to Felicia. He's kind and passionate and doesn't understand (fully) issues with race. Kind of endearing....and what I think Felicia sees in him.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by zamedy 2013-01-09 22:41:09
Saw the tour last year and absolutely fell in love with the show. I went back the following night to see it again before it closed. Bryan Fenkart and Felicia Boswell were amazing in their roles, and I absolutely loved the actress who played Huey's mother. I later saw the show on Netflix. And for me, I enjoyed the performance of the tour cast much more.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by ggersten 2013-01-10 11:19:21
Memphis is the Illinois High School Theatrefest "all state" production this year and opens today at the University of Illinois campus.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by kikki327 2013-01-10 18:54:42
I think the fact that the Huey Chad created was so different and strange was what made it so much better. He was nominated for a Tony for this role....so he obviously did it well.
Chad is at the theatrefest in Illinois right now! He visited the kids during their rehearsals a few months ago too. That must be so cool for them to experience.
Anybody seen 'Memphis' yet?
Posted by JohnyBroadway 2013-01-11 09:52:37
I saw the tour and loved it! The cast was top notch. Watched the taped production of Netflix did not love it. I preferred ben's more controlled performance of dewie much more, and Felicia a much stronger singer than montego. The tour cast executed the material much better. Strange, the show's, always seem much more fresher than their Broadway counterparts.
