Rocky
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Cititour.com Review
Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre has seen some pretty dazzling sights in recent decades, from glamour cat Grizabella ascending to the heavens atop a tire to middle-aged men and women shimmying their bods in skin-tight spandex. But nothing compares – and may never will – to the dazzling final 20 minutes of the new musical “Rocky,” when director Alex Timbers and scenic designer Christopher Barreca transform the theater into a spectator-filled re-creation of the old Philadelphia Spectrum for the long-awaited heavyweight championship bout between third-rate local boxer Rocky Balboa (Andy Karl) and showboating world champion Apollo Creed (Terence Archie).
This remarkable achievement, better seen in person than described, brings some much-needed adrenaline to this otherwise faithful and slightly pedestrian adaptation of the Oscar-winning 1976 film. Until then, I was ready to award the show a split decision, but that last segment redefines the term technical knockout.
For most of the previous two hours, there’s a fair amount of heart, but surprisingly little heat, generated by the piece -- which was co-written by the film’s original star and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone and Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan. Of course (even knowing the ending), we root for the kind-hearted loser Rocky to not only better his poverty-stricken circumstances, but find true love with his longtime crush, shy pet shop employee Adrian (Margo Seibert in a sensational Broadway debut). Moreover, a newly super-buff Karl gives the title role everything he’s got, vocally and physically, and steps out of Stallone’s shadow to make this hallowed part completely his own.
So why aren’t we completely engaged until that stunning coup de theatre? Perhaps if there was a little more development of the supporting characters, including Creed (whom Archie has great fun with), crusty trainer Mickey (a fine Dakin Matthews), Adrian’s abusive brother Paulie (an oily Danny Mastrogeorgio), and his girlfriend Gloria (a wasted if welcome Jennifer Mudge), the show might feel as if had a bit more depth.
Further, given that Rocky and Adrian aren’t characters that naturally “sing,” I understand the choice by Tony winners Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens to create an appropriately conversational yet somewhat low-key score. And they’ve penned some truly lovely numbers, including Adrian’s plaintive “Raining” and the couple’s sweet-natured duet “Happiness.” Yet everything they’ve written is trumped by the inclusion of the original film’s ultra-memorable theme “Gonna Fly Now” and the pop megahit “Eye of the Tiger” (from “Rocky III”) – which may be the one tune you leave the theater actually humming.
What you will be singing are the praises of Timbers and his various collaborators, including not only Barreca, but costume designer David Zinn (who captures the whole mid-‘70s “American Hustle” vibe), lighting designer Christopher Akerlind, sound designer Peter Hylenski, and especially video designers Don Scully and Pablo N. Malina, who give the show a truly cinematic feel.
Their work, along with Karl and Siebert’s, ultimately make “Rocky” a ticket worth fighting for.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.rockybroadway.com
Cast
Andy Karl, Margo Seibert, Terence Archie, Dakin Matthews, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Jennifer Mudge
Open/Close Dates
Opening 3/13/2014
Closing 8/17/2014
Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 2/13/2014
Closing Open-ended
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
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