BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON A REVIEW

It's hard to talk about a show that is creative,has good things in it,and makes it's points intellegently but winds up being [ to me anyway] unsatisfying. This is the case with the new rock musical " Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson".
The problem might be due to the fact that rock musicals have never been my cup of tea. Far too often I have gone to these exibits and my senses have been assaulted by unmelodic ear-shattering music and idiotic lyrics.
This latest example at least has creative minds behind it. It redefines America's controversial seventh president. This is the man who invented the Democratic Party, drove the Indians west and doubled the size of our nation. The show was written [book ] and directed by Alex Timbers and he has an inventive mind and a fair degree of intellegence,but political satire is hard to bring off for a whole evening and the irreverence in the treatment of the subject gets way out of hand long before the evening is over. The music and lyrics are by Michael Friedman and here too there is evedence of talent but his work is hard to judge when the sound design is so loud that intellegent judjement is impossible.
The cast works hard and Benjamin Walker is most engaging in the title role. Donyale Werle's set is all over the house and seems to be needlesly cluttered.
In short, "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" is not to my taste but it's authors show talent and invention and this show should satisfy a fair amount of the crowd that attends the theatre these days.
Go and decide for yourself.
At THE BERNARD B. JACOBS THEATRE 242 WEST 45th STREET N.Y.C.

MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION A REVIEW

There is nothing as gratifying for a theatregoer as the joy of discovery. In the sometimes cruel world of the Broadway this does not happen very often and when it does it can be a welcome change from the often second rate product we get in these expensive theatregoing days. It is a pleasure to report that "Mrs. Warren's Profession" which George Bernard Shaw wrote in 1894 is still capable of providing a stimulating theatre evening,and it is being given a first rate production by director Doug Hughes and a fine cast.

When it was first produced this play was considered immoral and was banned from having a New York showing in 1905. It focuses on Mrs. Warren who runs a chain of brothels in Victorian England in order to give her daughter a life of comfort, and her attempt to re-enter her life after years of estrangement. When her daughter finds out about Moms past she is appalled and wants nothing to do with her.

How well the play works depends on the actresses playing these two very strong willed women, and it here that the play is most fortunate. Cherry Jones [who is becoming Broadway's finest actress] is superb as the Mom who not only defends her profession, but sees it as employment for her girls.

As the strong willed daughter who has become a success in the business world Sally Hawkins [after a weak first act] shines in the climatic final scene in which the two women have their final showdown. It's a strong scene, as good as any of our modern plays can offer.

The play is handsomly designed and costumed by Scott Pask and Catherine Zuber respectivly and Kenneth Posner's lighting is just right.

While "Mrs. Warren's Profession " is not one of Shaw's best plays, it still provides a worthwhile and stimulating evening.

At THE AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE 227 WEST 42nd STREET N.Y.C.