This weekend The Cher Show closes on Broadway after playing only 295 performances. Summer, the Donna Summer musical, closed on Broadway after running for only 288 performances. What many jukebox musicals fail to do (including the inexplicably popular Mamma Mia!) is put the story first and the songs second. They try to fashion a story around the songs instead of letting the songs enhance the story. So I encourage Broadway musical producers to take a look at what Gurinder Chadha has done with the film Blinded by the Light. The film opened nationwide today.
In the interest of full disclosure, I was hired to work on the film after its acquisition at the Sundance Film Festival. However, no one asked me to write this on behalf of the film. I’m writing this because I truly love this movie and in particular the way Bruce Springsteen’s songs are woven into the narrative of the film. I also happen to be a life-long Springsteen fan.
Blinded by the Light tells the story of Javed (Viveik Kalra), a young Pakistani man living in Luton, England with his parents and his sister. His parents have very traditional beliefs, but he wants to be his own man; find his own love and most importantly, be a writer. When he meets someone at school, or rather literally bumps into him, he is exposed to Springsteen’s music. Hearing those songs inspires Javed to pursue his dreams, much to the dismay of his parents.
The film was inspired by Sarfraz Manzoor’s memoir, Greetings from Bury Park. Every song Chadha has chosen to put into the film was picked for its ability to move that story along. She not only carefully selects the songs, she wisely considers the most appropriate part of each song to be used. Whether it is “Dancing in the Dark,” “Born to Run,” “Jungleland” or “Thunder Road,” each song genuinely serves the narrative.
Contrast that with Summer which I saw at the La Jolla Playhouse before it moved to Broadway. The show was absolutely dreadful in spite of three very talented women (La Chanze, Ariana DeBose and Storm Lever) giving their all in service of a flimsy book. Because what little book there was didn’t come first. The songs did. (Can you imagine figuring out how to use “Hot Stuff” in a narrative?)
Does anyone really buy the storyline in Mamma Mia? Sure the songs are fun and the end-of-show concert leaves you feeling as if you saw a version of Abba. Not that there’s anything wrong with having fun, but upon even the slightest examination I believe you’ll realize the Abba emperors aren’t wearing any clothes. (We Will Rock You, utilizing Queen’s music, was even more bloated and unbelievable.)
One upcoming musical appears to have put the story first. Girl from the North Country, which garnered great reviews when it played at the Public Theatre, is opening on Broadway in March. The show, written by Conor McPherson (The Seafarer, The Weir, Shining City), appears to accomplish what other shows haven’t.
I wonder if Blinded by the Light will become a stage musical. There was a musical based on Springsteen’s music that had a workshop in New York in 2002. Drive All Night was a sung-through musical without dialogue. While that might have been interesting for fans, I doubt (sight unseen) that it would work as well as this movie. Drive All Night did not move forward after that workshop.
The joy in Blinded by the Light is not exclusively that it is Bruce Springsteen’s music. I’m thrilled that a film was made using his music, but the film’s point is bigger than Bruce. It’s about the joy of music. The power of music. Every frame celebrates that wonderful sense of discovery when you find that musical artist who speaks to you.
Tina, a musical that tells the life story of Tina Turner is currently playing in London and opens on Broadway in November. A Neil Diamond musical is in development and that team has its eyes on Broadway. Will they succeed dramatically where other musicals haven’t?
Jukebox musicals are considered safe bets for both investors and producers of Broadway musicals. The lessons learned from the failures of Lennon, All Shook Up, Good Vibrations, Ring of Fire (does anyone remember those musicals?) in addition to Summer and The Cher Show, will hopefully inspire future projects to consider what went wrong with those shows. But they should also look at what can go right. I suggest they look no further than Blinded by the Light.
Main Photo: Nell Williams, Viveik Kalra and Aaron Phagura in Blinded by the Light. (Photo by Nick Wall) All photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
