Bob Dylan Musical Choreographed by Billy Joel Fan Surprisingly as Bad as You'd Think It Would Be
So check out the above photo. Looks sort of like a brightly colored Grease-Meets Cirque de Solei, no? Well it's actually the promotional picture for the Old Globe Theatre's production of "The Times They Are A-Changin'", a musical based on the songs of Bob Dylan and choreographed by Twyla Tharp.
I possessed a morbid sort of curiosity about the show ever since I saw the ads start to pop up about a month ago. I wavered between just being totally against it, and thinking that maybe the $19 tickets might be worth just checking it out. I think that finally, my thoughts ended up in the "don't spend money on things that you are sure you will hate" category. Even though the Union-Tribune offers up a mostly positive review, I feel that my tastes would likely be more in line with the CityBeat reviewer. Many of the things that the UT offers up as compliments for the show sound like jokes:
âBlowin' in the Windâ is no longer the lilting acoustic folk tune that calls to mind Pete Seeger, but becomes a big, passionate, coming-of-age rock anthem by smooth-voiced star-in-the-making Michael Arden
Playing Captain Arab, Thom Sesma nails the seedy, sexy charisma of any aging rocker too long on the road. Like a blend of Neil Young and Dylan, but with good teeth
These two competitors for the affections of animal trainer Cleo (Jenn Colella) deliver âJust Like a Womanâ as an arena-rock duet, howled from the apron of the stage with Donald Holder's bold beams of light dancing in the dark.
Anyone who wishes to discount Dylan points for his teeth, or uses sexy to describe the singer is likely not sharing my viewpoint on what makes Bob Dylan great. The same goes for anyone who casually reports on Just Like A Woman or Blowin' in The Wind being reinterpretted as Arena Rock Ballads like there is nothing wrong with that.
The CityBeat's review is a bit less forgiving:
Wow, this blows
My prediction is that the majority of the shows tickets will be bought by women who actively dislike Bob Dylan as gifts for their husbands who actively dislike the theatre. If Twyla Tharp ends up being responsible for your marriage ending, don't say I didn't warn you.
The Times They Are A-Changin' is playing at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. Check the theatre's homepage for ticket availability: http://www.oldglobe.org/productions/TheTwylaTharpBobDyla416.html
Student tickets are available for $19, but you must bring your student ID to the box office to purchase them.
