Tonight, benefactors treated 1/2 of the Meanspeed Music staff to see the Broadway show by Arthur Miller called ‘All My Sons.’
Its stars were three movie stars – John Lithgow, Diane Wiest and the wife if Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes.
I personally did not expect but sitting in the orchestra’s house seats I found Holmes’ performance astounding. I couldn’t really describe it, but I most highly recommend anyone who gets a chance to see what all the ‘fuss’ is about to see the show. The Miller dialogue and theses are timeless, the direction and set and lighting were minimal yet somehow exceptionally full. The actors, each of the main draws known as movie stars, were exciting enough to keep me up all night measuring the tempo of the only song that describes these strange New York Broadway scenes: WHERE’S THE ORCHESTRA, by the New Yorker Billy Joel.
It is Joel’s *least* discussed song of any he has written since 1979. Why? People don’t know what to make of it. Put it this way: 15 years ago I saw Dustin Hoffman play Wiley Loman in Death of a Salesman. Dustin is, I am sorry, not cut out for stage acting. I’ve seen Jennifer Jason Leigh in Proof do very well, I’ve seen Sting in Threepenny Opera flounder. Tonight, Lithgow, Wiest and especially Katie Holmes were so good the bittersweetness I hear in this song about movie stars on Broadway – it is still not taped, it is an intimate and intense experience. I kept thinking of the line from Evita: STAR QUALITY. It was sad that the show had to end after 2 hours – but I will never forget it. Joel nails the bittersweetness amazingly, and most likely unconsciously. Billy – if you’ve seen the show, letting me know would be sweet – thanks.
Meanspeed-Carlton Summary
song title=”Where’s The Orchestra”
performer=Billy Joel®
composer=Billy Joel®
album-The Nylon Curtain
mean speed.average standard tempo/median velocity=78.4 beats per minute
average beat=0.765 seconds
emotional concept according to the meanspeed conjecture=bittersweetness, languid reflection
/Ian Andrew Schneider/
December 18, 2008
