If externals were enough,"WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN" would be a terrific show. This new musical [based on Pedro Almodovar's wonderfully funny 1988 film] has been beautifully directed by Bartlett Sher, has attractive scenery and projections by Michael Yeargan and Sven Ortel respectivly, a talented cast, and a professional look about it. But looking further, this latest offering from the fine Lincoln Center Theater Company is shy a few things, mainly a good book and a decent score.
What was once a classic study of male-female relationships and what insensitivity can do to them has been flattened into a witless and tastless book by one Jeffrey Lane[ no relation] that drains all the humor and humanity out of Mr. Almodovar's classic screenplay.
I have always believed that most musicals rise or fall on the quality of the songs. David Yazbek[who wrote the music and lyrics]has written music by the yard but none of it morphs into formal songs, and even with superb orchestrations by Simon Hale, it all sounds to me like a bunch of unrelated notes scattered on a music sheet, and the lyrics are about on par with the book.
As already mentioned, the cast [ headed by Patti Lupone, Sherie Rene Scott, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the wonderful Laura Benanti] is wonderful and the the stage direction is first rate.
"WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN" has all the externals to be a freshly original musical ,but missing, sadly missing are the internals.
AT THE BELASCO THEATRE 111 WEST 44th STREET N.Y.C.
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You are so right Jeff. A good musical almost must have a good score. One can think of bad musicals that have good songs, but can you think of a good musical that didn't have a good score?
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