Is No One Interested in

[Scottsacto]

I am surprised that I have seen no chatter about this show. Looks interesting, though I know very little about the Original Run of it.

Was hoping maybe Whizzer was going to it this weekend.

Would love to hear what people think.




playbill article

[Owen22]

I'd actually forgotten it was on. I love me some "Working" but I'm off to London on Tuesday, so I'm not even sure I'll be around to see it...

[Jon]

This new version is done with six actors. The original had around 16. The script has been updated, and Lin-Manuel Miranda has written a couple of new songs.

In this version, you see the actors change costumes, wigs, etc. on stage as they prepare to portray each character.

[darquegk]

Working is an interesting animal to me- the way it gets updated every twenty years to reflect the state of the workforce and the economy in each generation makes it truly unique as a show. Other than perhaps Godspell, given that every new production trots out new references and new orchestrations, i can't think of any other show that "evolves" the way Working does.

[Jon]

Thankfully, the awful Newsboy song is gone. These days in most suburbs, newspapers are delivered by senior citizens in cars... if anyone actually gets the daily paper anymore.

[Mr Roxy]

I remember seeing the original production.There is a Dvd of a 90 minute version with most of the main numbers in it.Would like to see an off Broadway production. Nowadays it might be titled Not Working or Barely Working.

[newintown]

No.

The original was interesting, and very of its time, and it's over.

This sounds like an attempt to raise the dead, and that only results in creating a zombie.

[stevenycguy]

No. The Prospect Theater Company tends to charge off-Broadway prices for off-off-off-Broadway quality productions, songs that are pedestrian and repetitive, and jokes that only they think are funny. There are so many other worthy shows that are worth my time and money.

[newintown]

Also - Miranda just proved with Bring It On (and West Side Story) that he's pretty much a one-trick pony.

[little_sally]

^ glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

[AwesomeDanny]

This production played in Chicago last year and in San Diego in 2008 (but with different casts). I saw it in Chicago, and thought it was wonderful. There was a big thread on here about that production, and it seemed that the overall reaction was very positive. I would love to hear how the new cast is.

[LimelightMike]

Is there a Playbill for this one? What's the artwork like?

[ReggieonBway]

"Also - Miranda just proved with Bring It On (and West Side Story) that he's pretty much a one-trick pony."

? How exactly did West Side Story and Bring It On prove that he's a one-trick pony? Specifically.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Just back from it.... The cast is wonderful and some of the songs really stand the test of time. But it's slow, and feels a lot longer than 90 minutes. I'm sure they will tighten it up.

Miranda's songs are unnecessary, and stick out like a sore thumb.

Champlin is divine in her multiple roles. But when is she not amazing?

[sally1112]

Can't add anything about current production, but I am a fan of the show itself. Saw it down well here regionally and have, "It's an Art," and "just a Housewife," on heavy rotation on my iPod.

[iluvtheatertrash]

I don't want to write too much because it was a first preview, and they definitely have some kinks to iron out. There is a LOT of staging. Maybe too much. But I think they'll find their groove.

The dressing room is on-stage, behind a see-through wall. Very clever.

[LimelightMike]

iluvtheatretertrash: What's the cover art/artawork like for this show? And, is there a song list?

[broadwaybabe1234]

i wish them the best of luck but i can't stand this show. Apart from the opening and the closing number i feel like all the songs are boring and don't give us enough of each character to really feel anything about them.

On a side note, i just did the show and played Babe who singings "I'm just movin'" Is that song cut from this production? because i think it was cut from the chicago run but i'm not sure.

[iluvtheatertrash]

The artwork is right here: http://59e59.org/

Sure. The song list was as follows:

All The Livelong Day
Delivery (Lin-Manuel Miranda's predictable addition, complete with rapping)
Nobody Tells Me How
Brother Trucker
Just a Housewife
Millwork
If I Could've Been
The Mason
It's An Art
Joe
A Very Good Day (Lin-Manuel Miranda's new addition: predictable, but not a bad song by any means)
Cleanin' Women
Fathers and Sons
Something to Point To

I will say that besides the always wonderful Champlin, Marie-France Arcilla is the true stand-out. Her "Millwork" is extraordinary, and probably the most fully realized character of the whole evening. I would see it again simply for these 5 minutes.

[darquegk]

Are the character sketches of the business executive, the cosmetics saleswoman, and the pothead on the verge of going postal still in the show? When I last saw the show, those three character sketches stood out as being unusually dark for the rest of the piece- the executive considering starting a school to train others to be like him, the saleswoman speaking frankly about how she manipulates her clientele, and the pothead having murder fantasies about his boss.

[iluvtheatertrash]

There's one who fantasizes about killing his voice, but now he's just flaming.

[iluvtheatertrash]

The character is no longer a stoner, but now gay. And still fantasizes to kill his boss. The others are no longer there.

I should correct myself: he doesn't rap in "Delivery". There is a section that feels as if he does, but it's sung.

[whatever2]

actually, it's not clear that the "former stoner" character is gay -- not an unreasonable interpretation of the creatives' intentions, but also not explicit.

i thought his character was perhaps the show's weakest link -- the bi-polar flip-flops between SNL's Stefan, an Occupier, and James Holmes were annoying. And if he *is* meant to be gay, INCREDIBLY offensive.

Fathers and Sons could be cut.

But overall this was a very pleasant surprise -- the ensemble acting is very strong, and overall the updating works. totally agree about "millwork" and champlin; that piece alone was worth the price of admission, and she shows remarkable talent throughout.

[newintown]

I do sorta wish (not having seen it, just based on published reports and marketing) they had the talent and integrity to create Working II or Still Working, instead of cannibalizing the original.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Really, whatever? I actually was annoyed with that character because I thought he was so overly stereotypical. And, to be honest, I was a tad offended.

Glad to know someone else loved Millwork as much as I...

Newintown, I will say they really did update quite a lot and make it work "now".

[newintown]

Even as nice as that might be, iluv, I would have more respect for an original piece than a bastardized semi-collage of the original.

It seems that we see really good new work so rarely, compared with the number of revivals/revisions. As admirable as a good revival may be, it lacks the exciting integrity of a wholly new creation.

I'm curious whether people think this is because of directors'/producers' desire to adapt what they already know, or a perceived demand from audiences to see reruns of familiar work.