Keep To The Code

[MadBess]

BlackBeard The Musical

Pre-Broadway Event

Sept. 5 - 27

Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix , AZ

Tickets - $22 - $42

http://www.blackbeardthemusical.com/

The show tells the story of Edward Teach—better known as Blackbeard—who used his fearsome façade to capture and plunder his way into legend. The action surrounds the pirate’s famously brazen blockade of Charleston Harbor, where he takes a ship full of wealthy passengers hostage and among them, the fiancée to Lt. Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy. But the Governor refuses to pay the bizarre ransom: a chest full of medicine. Meanwhile, despite warnings of bad luck, Blackbeard has brought aboard his latest pursuit, a woman named Mary, who challenges his façade and sets in motion events that will change everything.

[Bilgemunky]

You can find the orginal cast recording soundtrack of this online. It's disturbingly awsome, if a bit campy.
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[Captain Blackheart]

I priced it out and I could make it to closing night for $303.12 with airfare, rental car, hotel and show tickets. I hate you guys for turning me on to stuff like this. I'd really love to see this show... Although, I'd probably just sit there and get mad about the historical inaccuracies.
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My motorsport photography site: http://www.cheryljonesphoto.com - You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the photos!

[Captain Blackheart]

Okay, yep. I'm gonna book this trip! My traveling friends aren't able to make it, so I'm going it alone, Sept 27 (closing night). This is too good to miss! I'll be sure to give a complete rundown afterward.
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My motorsport photography site: http://www.cheryljonesphoto.com - You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the photos!

[Captain Blackheart]

Completely booked and locked in for Sept 27. Can't wait to see this performance!!
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My motorsport photography site: http://www.cheryljonesphoto.com - You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the photos!

[Pierce Urlipz]

[MadBess]

Here is a review :

http://www.mailehernandez.com/?p=158

[Captain Blackheart]

I'm off tomorrow morning for Phoenix!! Will return here Monday with my review. Yay! I'm so looking forward to this!
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My motorsport photography site: http://www.cheryljonesphoto.com - You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the photos!

[Pharazon]

If I was notoriously violent pirate captain, this is EXACTLY how I would like to be honored.

Too bad I am just out of reach to see the show. =(
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Argh, banner in progress.

[Captain Blackheart]

I'm back with a not-so-brief review:

Taken strictly as a Broadway-hopeful musical entertainment "Blackbeard: A New Musical" is absolutely wonderful. Catchy songs, funny moments, a couple very nice love stories and some good action. What more could you wish?

Taken as an historical account of a moment in the life of Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, it is absolutely laughable. Jumbling multiple episodes of his life into one event, ignoring the actual real-life interaction between certain characters, and forcing an overarching love story onto a man for whom love didn't seem to mean a whole lot.

Tyler Maxson did a terrific job in his portrayal of Blackbeard. Menacing, fun, full of action and, in the context of the play, psychologically torn over the confict of his desire "To Be Remembered" (a song in the play) and his desire to marry his current sweetheart Mary. In the play, they do acknowledge that Mary would be Blackbeard's 14th wife, but, according to the man himself, this one is different. He really loves Mary and, when she walks out on him because he holds captives from Charleston in the hold of his ship and threatens their lives, he's upset enough to question whether he can continue with his plan. Yes, I nearly laughed out loud as Blackbeard sang of his tortured mind, uncertain whether he should continue on with his plan or give it all up just to have Mary back. Sure, that's what Blackbeard would have spent his time thinking about.

The crux of the play centers on Blackbeard's blockade of Charleston harbor demanding only a chest of medicine (most of his crew suffers from VD). As Blackbeard begins his blockade, he takes an outward bound vessel and holds its passengers captive. Among those passengers is Anne, the fiance of Lt Robert Maynard of the Royal Navy, who is assigned to assist Gov Johnson in his efforts to deal with the pirates. Maynard is so distraught at the situation facing his fiance that he ignores orders from Gov Johnson and King George and heads out to Blackbeard's ship to rescue his love (after many songs from both of them about the horror of being separated).

Thrown into the mix is the gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet. Portrayed by local theatre favorite Jere Van Patten as a fop of a man, with frilly clothing, ribboned shoes and hairstyles designed purely for laughs. The Bonnet character was far and away the crowd favorite, as he was played almost entirely for laughs and was given the most entertaining, playful songs. Although, in reality, Stede Bonnet sailed in consort with Blackbeard and was eventually relegated to nothing more than a supernumerary aboard his own ship, in the play he has had no previous experience with the notable pirate. He has retired from the pirate life and accepted the King's Pardon. Now working as an advisor to the Governor, he also devises a plan to get back to his previous piratical life by feeding information to Blackbeard and assisting with his plans.

Much action ensues aboard Blackbeard's ship and it appears that the pirate has shot and killed Maynard, much to the eternal woe of his fiance. However, Blackbeard's love Mary, unable to bear this horrible turn of circumstances (her line "Edward, you're not a murderer" very nearly sent me into a fit of laughter), informs on him to the Governor and assists with the efforts to put a stop to his blockade (although she feels very bad about having to do it). Maynard, healthy thanks to his ability to swim and Blackbeard's bad aim, sets forth again, this time with blessings from the Governor and a ship with 12 sailors to assist. As Maynard makes his plans, Blackbeard has a change of heart and releases all his captives (including Maynard's fiance), only to find his beloved Mary dying in a local tavern (at the hands of the tavern's barmaid, who reveals she was Blackbeard's first wife). Unaware of this turn, Maynard sets sail and storms Blackbeard's ship. The climactic battle between Maynard and the mourning Blackbeard pits the two in pistol and cutlass combat, alone below decks of the ship. While Maynard rails at Blackbeard's insolence at threatening his fiance's life, Blackbeard informs him that the girl is free and unharmed. But, it's too late. Maynard has riddled Blackbeard with pistol shot and cutlass swipes and, very dramatically, the pirate staggers about the stage, drops to his knees and then dies, falling face-down upon the stage (the stagiest death scene I've ever seen). Disappointingly, no effort was made to cut off Blackbeard's head, as was done in reality upon his death.

Still, historical inaccuracies aside, this was a fun, well-crafted musical with much to enjoy. All the actors peformed with great gusto and seemed to thoroughly enjoy inhabiting their characters. Particular standouts were Jere Van Patten (Stede Bonnet) and Mark Hackmann as Israel Hands. This was the final performance in the play's Phoenix run and the crowd was filled with a great many friends and family of the actors and crew. Playwright Rob Gardner took the stage at the curtain call to thank the cast, crew, theatre and audience for their enthusiasm and support.

Certainly, this was worth my overnight trip to Phoenix. Very enjoyable and a fine entertainment. I do expect we'll see "Blackbeard: A New Musical" upon the Broadway boards in the near future. Although, I couldn't help thinking, particularly during Blackbeard's very heartfelt songs of love and devotion, that if Edward Teach himself were in the theatre, he'd be pleased to have been remembered, but he'd have been none too happy being portrayed as a lovestruck, uncertain man without the courage of his piratical convictions.
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My motorsport photography site: http://www.cheryljonesphoto.com - You don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy the photos!