Bombay Dreams is a sort of "Cinderfella" -- a totally predictable, rather amusing, corny melodrama about a poor boy and his rise to Movie Star, with big splashes of color (set and costumes by Mark Thompson). It has the feel of Las Vegas as seen thru the eyes of a bad dinner- theater choreographer with dance movements all synchronized and all right on the beat. In fact, choreographers this artless, without counterpoint or counter rhythm, should have their dance shoes removed and be drummed out of the movement business. The offenders are Anthony Van Laast and Farah Khan. It's also all very old fashioned, with a monumental naivete in the love songs by A R Rahman (music) and Don Black (lyrics), and, in fact, in the whole show (book by Meera Syal and Thomas Meehan).
Leading man Manu Nrayan has an appealing sweetness, and many of the cast are good performers with pro singing voices, and, as directed by Steven Pimlott, they have an innocent approach to musical performing that probably goes really well in the rural provinces of India. Actually, the show is so bad, it's fun, and an unsophisticated tourist would probably have a great time.
Previews:
March 29, 2004
Opened:
April 29, 2004
Ended:
January 1, 2005
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Waxman Willliams & TGA, in assoc w/ Denise Rich/Ralph Williams, Scott Prisand/Danny Seraphine, Sudhir Vaishnav, The Independent Presenters Network, Alexander Fraser & Ken Denison, presenting Andrew Lloyd Webber production
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Broadway Theater
Theater Address:
1681 Broadway (53rd St)
Phone:
(212) 239-6200
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Stephen Pimlott
Review:
Parental:
adult themes
Cast:
Manu Narayan (Akaash), Anisha Nagarajan (Priya), Ayesha Dharker (Rani), Sriram Ganesan, Marvin L. Ishmael, Deep Katdare, Madhur Jaffrey (Shanti), Jolly Abraham, Mueen Jahan Ahman, Aaron J. Albano, Celine Alwyn, Anjali Bhimani, Shane Bland, Gabrielle Burrafato, Wendy Calio, Tiffany Cooper, Sheetal Ghandi, Krystal Kiran Garib, Tanvir Gopal, Tania Marie Hakin, Dell Howlett, Suresh John, Ian Jutsun, Miriam Laube, Aalok Mehta, Ron Nahass, Michelle Nigalan, Zahf Paroo, Danny Pathan, Bobby Petska, Kafi Pierre, Rommy Sandhu, Sarah Ripard, Darryl Semira, Neil Jay Shastril, Lisa Stevens, Kirk Torigoe, James R. Whittington
Technical:
Choreog: Anthony Van Laast & Farah Khan. Set/Costumes: Mark Thompson; Lighting: Hugh Vanstone; Sound: Mick Potter; Music Sup: Chris Nightingale. Casting: Tara Rubin.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz ?
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
May 2004
