Great article in the NY Times about this show at the theater in Flushing Meadow Park in Queens. Just got my tickets. I feel like I've been waiting to see something like this all my life.
If you're not sure who he was, here's a preview for the production and a nine-minute documentary on his dances.
Great post PJ. Many heap praise on Fosse, Robbins and Bennett and rightfully so but many tend to forget other great choreographers like Robert Sidney, Donald McKayle and Jack Cole who have done great work in both stage and film.
It was an ambitious production, but ultimately a letdown. The dancers are hard-working but the narrative is thin, too many second-rate song choices, and hardly a point of view. You never got to know much about the man aside from a few quotes from some of the stars who worked with him. Also, with 30 plus numbers, there was too much packed into this 2 hour show that was just plain uninteresting. Since most of the numbers were selected from the films they appeared in, many were edited for the camera, so director/choreographer Chet Walker had to "fill in the blanks" in the style of Cole. Thus, a majority of the show was a mish mash of "jazz class" looking numbers that Walker embellished on. The standout in the show was David Elder, who sings like a dream, can still dance quite well, and carried the majority of the show. Rachelle Rak is on hand to chew the scenery, and most of the male dancers, whenever given the chance to steal focus. Another highlight was the recreation of Sing, Sing, Sing from one of Cole's nightclub shows.
All in all, the dancers worked very hard to little effect. Kudos to them.
It seems most of the reviews are similar-good performers-lack luster show.
That being said, as it is not very common that dancers these days have the opportunity to dance Mr. Cole's work.......they must be having an absolute ball getting this opportunity.
I'm still looking forward to it. I really don't care about a narrative. I'm not going to see a narrative. I'm going to see talented dancers celebrate the Jack Cole style.
Which is something one doesn't get the chance to do often. Or, ever, actually.
Well Joey, I went with the same expectations. It was a letdown, a few numbers notwithstanding. The men fare better than the women for sure as Cole's style befitted the male dancer with its athleticism and sheer strength. You'll see a couple of terrific male dancers that will wet your appetite, but the show as a whole could have been much better with a stronger, more creative director at the helm.
This is fascinating. A worthy project to be sure, and so,if it is indeed true that the intent overshadows the result, I hope that somewhere along the line someone comes into contact with HEAT WAVE and shapes it into the crackerjack of a show it seems that it could and should be. (My instinct is that if there's a problem marrying narrative of even simply trivia about Cole with the material, then that should be ditched and the show constructed a la FOSSE, where the work is left to speak for itself.)
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joined:3/11/04
Posted: 4/28/12 at 12:38pm