Alain Boublil is the librettist and lyricists behind such HUGE musicals as Les Miserables and Miss Saigon – and the legendary Frenchie just premiered a new work in Manhattan, appropriately titled Manhattan Parisienne.
However, do not go into this show expecting a massive chorus or flying helicopters. Manhattan Parisienne is is super intimate – a mostly two person musical in a small theater. There are no reserved seats! General admission!
The show is a sweet and simple modern-day love fantasia between a French woman and an American man and the musical features some staples of the French and American songbook. From Edith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg to the Gershwins and Sinatra.
The story is almost irrelevant, though. Manhattan Parisienne is all about the song selections. And they prove to be a very enjoyable experience!
Performed without intermission, the show is like a fancier cabaret act. And because it’s mainly all about the songs, our one big note is…. while the cast features some great singers, the intimacy of the theater and the grandness of these songs called for some PHENOMENAL singers. There is a big difference between great and phenomenal singers.
However, this cast did a fine job and it’s a more than fine show!
With some bigger voices or bigger names, though, this could play to much larger audiences.
Manhattan Parisienne is very enjoyable – especially for a date night!
Related Posts
-
Categories
