Just came from seeing this. Spivey wasn’t there, and the matinee today was his understudy’s Broadway debut. Edwin Bates. He smashed it! Fantastic show, really stunning. Can’t wait to read through the libretto and hear the score again.
Thanks for sharing this! We are seeing it next week and can’t wait to see what we all think will be the next big hit! So happy to see all the Tony noms!
Your review is spot on. I saw it at Playwrights Horizons (with a different Usher) and was blown away. This is an amazing show and it can be difficult to describe or summarize for people in a way that does it justice. Your analysis is great.
I really want to see this show on broadway. For one I never thought a show like this would exist. I was really lucky to get to see a preview of in when it was at Woolly Mammoth theatre. But when I saw it there I only got to see a snippet of the show, that being the Tyler Perry writes real life song. It made me a little hesitant to see the show though. As a black man, when the white artistic director was raving about the show; talking about the other issues it handles; how the number we were going to see is funny, After hearing that, and seeing that number, I was a little confused and hesitant to see the show. I was trying to figure out if this show was truly written for gay black boys or if it was a show that used black bodies for white people's enjoyment...and then I listened to the cast album. This show made me feel seen. Even though I'm not gay, I could relate to the feeling of hating the way you look, hating the way your body feels, and not knowing what kind of love you want or need. This show showed me that black boys are deserving of self-love and really just helped me release emotions I had been pushing down for a really long time. I love the show for that. I don't necessarily know everything the show is trying to say, but I know what it feels like to understand something or someone. I felt that with this show. 10/10 for me.
I don’t think the Inwood daddy scene was about him sleeping with an actual racist bigot. It was about him feeling guilty about sleeping with a man that fetishizes him and engages him in derogatory race play. Usher feels conflicted because this man is the only one who will give him time of day, and yet certain aspects of the experience that are uncomfortable. Usher feels ashamed for liking it.
That’s an interesting perspective. That’s what’s so interesting with the show concept, Inwood Daddy is represented based on Usher’s experience with him, so it can be interpreted in a few legitimately different ways based on how we interpret Usher’s thoughts.
Solid review. This one seems like it's going to piss off a lot of people and honestly, I could care less. As you say, we don't know what someone else is going through. Glad these types of shows give people like this a voice.
I thought everything was fantastic except for the music. It could have been a play with a couple of songs rather than a musical. There were maybe 3 songs that were memorable.
Just came from seeing this. Spivey wasn’t there, and the matinee today was his understudy’s Broadway debut. Edwin Bates. He smashed it! Fantastic show, really stunning. Can’t wait to read through the libretto and hear the score again.
Fantastic review. I saw this the night before this video was uploaded. I was BAWLING after the show.
Thanks for sharing this! We are seeing it next week and can’t wait to see what we all think will be the next big hit! So happy to see all the Tony noms!
I saw the show at Wooly Mammoth in Dc and loved it. It's not for everyone but very well done.
Your review is spot on. I saw it at Playwrights Horizons (with a different Usher) and was blown away. This is an amazing show and it can be difficult to describe or summarize for people in a way that does it justice. Your analysis is great.
I agree with your wife.. I just listened to the cd and all I wanted was to give him a hug.
I really want to see this show on broadway. For one I never thought a show like this would exist. I was really lucky to get to see a preview of in when it was at Woolly Mammoth theatre. But when I saw it there I only got to see a snippet of the show, that being the Tyler Perry writes real life song.
It made me a little hesitant to see the show though. As a black man, when the white artistic director was raving about the show; talking about the other issues it handles; how the number we were going to see is funny, After hearing that, and seeing that number, I was a little confused and hesitant to see the show. I was trying to figure out if this show was truly written for gay black boys or if it was a show that used black bodies for white people's enjoyment...and then I listened to the cast album.
This show made me feel seen. Even though I'm not gay, I could relate to the feeling of hating the way you look, hating the way your body feels, and not knowing what kind of love you want or need. This show showed me that black boys are deserving of self-love and really just helped me release emotions I had been pushing down for a really long time. I love the show for that. I don't necessarily know everything the show is trying to say, but I know what it feels like to understand something or someone. I felt that with this show. 10/10 for me.
I don’t think the Inwood daddy scene was about him sleeping with an actual racist bigot. It was about him feeling guilty about sleeping with a man that fetishizes him and engages him in derogatory race play. Usher feels conflicted because this man is the only one who will give him time of day, and yet certain aspects of the experience that are uncomfortable. Usher feels ashamed for liking it.
That’s an interesting perspective. That’s what’s so interesting with the show concept, Inwood Daddy is represented based on Usher’s experience with him, so it can be interpreted in a few legitimately different ways based on how we interpret Usher’s thoughts.
Derogatory race play is rooted in racism ergo racist bigot
Solid review. This one seems like it's going to piss off a lot of people and honestly, I could care less. As you say, we don't know what someone else is going through. Glad these types of shows give people like this a voice.
Lucky Broadway to have you sir.
I thought everything was fantastic except for the music. It could have been a play with a couple of songs rather than a musical. There were maybe 3 songs that were memorable.
Where's the diversity? Asking for a friend.
Pardon?
have much white fragility?