Passing Strange

Finding Yourself in Music

What a fabulous twist on the conventional musical. A talented group of musicians, really a band, takes center stage - literally - instead of the singers. The actors/singers must move around the music as we hear the story of a young black youth trying to find who he is. It is a simple youth-come-of-age story narrated by the band leader but the format, like the story, defies to travel along standard lines. Lucky for us, it explores what it means to be yourself, find yourself, versus go along, posing the way you think others would like you to be.

A young boy (Daniel Breaker) is growing up in Los Angeles. His grounded mother wishes he'd go to church more. Somewhere while learning about music through the church choir he finds out that surface appearances are sometimes hiding completely different people underneath. Off he head to Amsterdam and gets lost in the freedom of too much freedom. Then Berlin infuses its own sense of forced anarchy and to fit into this counter culture, he finds himself embracing some sterotypes of his own to validate his art adn expressionism. Through song and characters we find that this young black man has more connections and love for Camus, Goddard, and DaDa than with gangs, ghettos, or guns.

Singer/songwriter Stew and his musical partner Heidi Rodewald weave a universal story of searching for self in an age of surface expectations - as the advertising states "searching for something Real." Listening to the narration and songs was sheer fun. I found myself laughing out loud through most of the show. The avant garde film sketch had me practically rolling on the floor, too funny! For Broadway audiences some may find the acting a singing good but not stellar. Personally I loved the roughness and energy the cast brings to the production even if they aren't perfect. And while not all the tunes and songs are catchy or polished, the majority are wonderfully crafted and woven into the story against all traditional formats for Broadway numbers - not big finale but plenty of highs and lows with a great top-tapping number that brings the audience to their feet. The staging is simple, chairs that move about with the actors, flooring that sinks and rises the band members into the floor as the story needs, and lights, big panels of lights. Wow! So go and enjoy yourself at the best musical I've seen on Broadway, and the only one I dare say I'll see again. Maybe we'll all find something Real through the experience.