Lennon, The Musical

[Sue]

I really wanted to go see this, after reading this article...not too sure.
Lynn, please give a review after you and Greg see the show.


‘Lennon’ imagines life without Beatles
Musical takes ‘Ono-centric’ view of musician’s life

Updated: 2:05 p.m. ET Aug. 15, 2005

NEW YORK - A new Broadway musical about John Lennon was greeted with mixed reviews Monday and is likely to disappoint Beatles fans, but the former Beatle’s widow Yoko Ono said he would have enjoyed it.

“I think he would be jumping up and down, I think he would have loved it,” said Ono, who was closely involved in the production since she controls the rights to his songs.

“My role was to protect John’s music,” she told Reuters after “Lennon” opened Sunday.

Several critics disliked what The New York Times called the musical’s “Ono-centric” view of Lennon’s life.

The show skips through the early years of his musical career, when the Beatles revolutionized popular music, and gives little weight to his first marriage and son before he met Ono, and then quit the Beatles in 1970. It also glosses over a later affair when he and Ono lived apart for more than a year.

“Imagine there’s no Beatles, imagine no iconic movies, no White Album, no poetry books, no drawings,” Newsday’s Linda Winer wrote. “Then imagine there’s no son before Sean, no mistress named May Pang, no deep depression, nothing really serious with drugs.”

Beatles fans also may be disappointed that the musical includes very few of the group’s songs -- not least for copyright reasons -- and when the “Fab Four” are seen singing on stage, they are played by the four women in the cast.

“This is John Lennon, the legend, as filtered through the protective, selective, up-with-people, later-life self-interest of Yoko Ono Lennon,” Newsday wrote.

In an interview before the opening, director Don Scardino who wrote the show by trawling through interviews, notes and tapes and using Lennon’s own words for the entire script, said the show presented Lennon’s own view of his life.

“Looking back on his life you get to a certain point in the story and there is no story of John without Yoko,” he said.

“He was hurt when people didn’t either embrace Yoko or his love for Yoko, but finally he didn’t care,” Scardino said.

‘Broadway belting’
Despite some warm praise for the cast, some critics were not impressed by the way Lennon’s music was presented.

“’Lennon’ ... does everything it can to blow John’s simple songs into something garish and grand,” Daily News critic Jim Farber wrote. “Apparently the makers of ’Lennon’ never met a ballad too intimate to be whipped into a show-stopper.”

The New York Times said the the songs’ arrangements and delivery “tend toward either aggressive Broadway belting or Carpenters-style schmaltz...”

The New York Post was a little more generous, praising the ”virtually flawless” cast who each take a turn at playing Lennon in the biographical show, from his childhood in Liverpool to his assassination in New York in 1980.

“It benefits from its nine-person cast, superb from top to bottom, and, let’s face it, expectations so reduced as to be almost minimal,” Post critic Clive Barnes wrote.

Speaking after she joined the cast on stage for the curtain call Sunday, Ono, 72, who still lives in the New York apartment building where Lennon was shot 25 years ago, brushed off media sniping about her influence on the show in recent weeks.

“People will say something so let them say it,” she said.

She said watching the show was an emotional experience, particularly at the moment of his murder which is not shown but described by a police officer who was first on the scene.

“The show is full of sense of humor and it’s just laughing, laughing, laughing, and suddenly it hits you,” Ono said.

“But that’s how it was. It was very sudden. And it is still a bit difficult for me to watch that.”

[GuitarPLYR]

Ughhhh.....I CAN'T STAND Yoko Ono!!!

I hate the way Julian Lennon is shunned from everything having to deal with John Lennon. He is his first son and he is never mention in anything, not to mention that he is WAY more talented that anybody with the "Oko" name.

[macca]

What die-hard Beatles fan actually likes her? Granted...bless her for keeping Lennon's spirit(and music) alive. BUT.....everything is done now by her over-biased slant towards herself ONLY. If it were up to her, any "real" Lennon would just go away. In her delusional vision, the only ones who matter are she and Sean, and nothing really happened until she came into the picture. I suppose Cynthia, Julian and other REAL Lennons just don't count? I suppose Julian summed things up best: No matter what she does, she can NEVER be a Lennon.

[SHOELUVRSIS]

I cant bash Ono simply because she made John so happy.
i tend to think she lived in his shadow (of course),
and she was very much envious and wished to get as much attention
as John drew, i have many episodes of Mike Douglas with John and
Yoko and i find myself thinking (alot) SIT DOWN YOKO!

so the play is alot of her influence (coupled with mixed reviews,i'm not
sure I want to see it and was going to, well i'll wait for Gregs review)
but bottom line is I dont think its fair to say a diehard fan would
never like Yoko (because than your saying a diehard fan thinks its ok to be a man who physically abuses women (as John admittedly did, albeit not later in his life but for quite sometime of it), because if you are truly a fan
of John, and you realize his level of intelligence and strength of
musicianship, you would have to realize something was there thats none of our damn business and you would respect that, (respect John in other words).

John was never much a father to Julian so what would there be to
say or display of thier relationship?
nothing from what i've read and seen in interviews with both Julian and John himself.
Regardless of Julian's comment that Yoko will never be a Lennon (true),
he never had John for a father, or at least not until much later in both
their lives, and a rather insignificant one at that.

if your a diehard Lennon fan i'd rather think you would **** up any information/exposure you could and go see it,
I know if Courtney did a play about Kurt i'd go see it
regardless of the view, b/c you realize whose at the helm, but b/c
you want to remember the wonderful person that was,
through anyones glasses - you know the story - enjoy the
celebration instead!

[love2sing]

So, I take it this is going to be nothing like "Seussical the Musical"?

[ziggy]

Lots of Beatles fans blame Yoko for everything especially the breakup
of the band....who really knows what happened? She might never
win a popularity contest....
When Macca & I went to Beatlefest in Chicago 5 years ago, every time
Yoko's name was mentioned - the majority of the crowd there hissed.

All I can say is that John must have really loved her....He was a
very famous and wealthy man and could have
had anyone - and he chose her and stayed with her for a long time.

[rushtrader]

Ziggy,

You coming to 'fest again this weekend in Chicago?

As for the musical, with the exception of the guy who runs 'fest, who is a friend of Yoko's anyway, everyon else I know who has seen it has hated it.

RT

[sarcastic1]

Well after reading all this I won't be in a rush to go see it.

[Sgt.Pepper]

It's Broadway!!!, not a John Lennon concert.

I thought the musical was great and highly suggest going to see it. I really enjoyed the big sound the stage band and performers gave to Lennon's songs.

Judge for yourself, don't listen to some newspaper writer. They are mostly negative.

Not much of a yoko fan, but she did make him happy. For Pete's sake, when you go to work (the recording studio), leave the spouse at home.

[SHOELUVRSIS]

It's Broadway!!!, not a John Lennon concert.

I thought the musical was great and highly suggest going to see it. I really enjoyed the big sound the stage band and performers gave to Lennon's songs.

Judge for yourself, don't listen to some newspaper writer. They are mostly negative.

Not much of a yoko fan, but she did make him happy. For Pete's sake, when you go to work (the recording studio), leave the spouse at home.


hey something positive!
i'm with you ! :D

[SHOELUVRSIS]

Lots of Beatles fans blame Yoko for everything especially the breakup
of the band....who really knows what happened? She might never
win a popularity contest....
When Macca & I went to Beatlefest in Chicago 5 years ago, every time
Yoko's name was mentioned - the majority of the crowd there hissed.

All I can say is that John must have really loved her....He was a
very famous and wealthy man and could have
had anyone - and he chose her and stayed with her for a long time.

being a late joiner into the Beatles phenomonom,
I always use to question people , why did the Beatles break-up?
why does everyone think Yoko broke up the Beatles?
no one ever could give me a straight answer,
well I got John's answer in a book length interview,
as i'm sure they all have their own versions,
as i'm sure the truth lies inbetween, but John's account is the
only plausible one (and closest to accurate) as i have at this point.

in a nutshell, Yoko was a catalyst that sped up a band that
was breaking up/away anyhow.
John had enough Beatles (was doing it so long at that point)
and was growing away from the Beatles, but not because of Yoko,
rather he was growing towards her, type of thing.
in other words growing, changing, evolving.
(not every band will end up like the stones)
(all we are saying - last major interview w/john lennon before his
death) great read - very informative.

it makes me sad :( to think people hissed at her name,
John wouldnt have given a one of them the time of day!
(but their fans right?)
I think people tend to glorify celebrities a little too much,
in turn forgetting that they too put thier pants on one leg at a time,
I will never understand people who hate Yoko, because I know
she didnt break-up the Beatles and if in fact she did,
than shouldnt everyone hate John for being so weak that a woman
would turn him away from his undying passion? please!

i'm with you Ziggy, he loved her and was with her - so be it!
i'd love to go to a Beatlesfest - how was it?

[ziggy]

Ziggy,

You coming to 'fest again this weekend in Chicago?

RT

RT, I would love to attend another one. I've only been once
(with Macca - he's been a few times). Just not in the budget.
We had a great time there and hopefully we'll make another one
sometime!

[ziggy]

!

i'm with you Ziggy, he loved her and was with her - so be it!
i'd love to go to a Beatlesfest - how was it?

We had the best time at Beatlefest! Everything Beatles that you
can imagine & then some! Merchandise galour - shirts, posters,
recordings, and every kind of memorabilia you can think of,
performances, artwork, movie showings, books, puppet show,
discussions, etc., etc. Late at night you could find people in small
groups under stairways or in corners gathered together singing
Beatle songs....It was great! :D

[macca]

What broke up the Beatles? Numerous things ---- they grew up, maturity, and possibly just being tired of being a band. Besides, John said he couldn't see himself singing She Loves You forever and he wanted out of the band by the time he was 30. Remember...the Beatles was a machine, hence a big reason why they stopped touring. Couldn't hear themselves(or enjoy it!), and they had NO life. By the time they stopped touring, they started to have something of a life, but by then, the band began imploding.

A lot of people's hatred towards Yoko ---- keep this in mind: she was the FIRST to invade their "inner circle" within the studio. Yes, a lot was due to John's insistance they stay joined at the hip, but you have to admit....kind of unerving to be doing sessions and there's a damn bed in the studio(and later she's IN on the sessions!). Before she came along, 8 or 9 people in there.....PERIOD. No girlfriends, wives, NOBODY but their trusted inner circle.

Sorry SIS.....she's not that good....or at least what she thinks she is. I just wish something she approved like that musical would be told TRUTHFULLY, not by Yoko's vision that the damn world revolves around her. Keep in mind, John met Yoko and because of her association with John and The Beatles, her recognition elevated. Otherwise, she'd still be some freaky avant-guard artist painting and performing weird sh*t.

The hissing..I have one better than that. One year at the auction, somebody hissed and the moderator took offense, not Mark Lapidos(the organizer). One who hissed jumped up and said: kiss my a$$, I just DON'T LIKE HER. After that, there was much applause. Remember, it is Beatlefest(or now called the Fest For Beatles Fans), NOT YokoFest.

Beatlefest --- one of these days, would like to make another one. From what I've read, it has changed a lot(but you can still have fun....if you know where to go!....right RT?)

[The Doork]

All I can say is that John must have really loved her....He was a
very famous and wealthy man and could have
had anyone - and he chose her and stayed with her for a long time.


It is also proof that love is not only blind, but deaf, too!

Personally, I think the CD was invented because of Yoko. I can hear them in the Phillips labs now, after listening to Double Fantasy: "There's got to be a faster way to get around these tracks!"

I, for one, have never broke the seal on my 8-track of DF for this reason :rolleyes: .

[shoeluvr]

me, greg and the kids are going this saturday I will let you guys know what we all think of it.

[danny]

Bravo Love 2 Sing,lennon Was A Brilliant Singer/musician ,lets Just Celebrate His Life,and His Work.the Hell With Everything Else.

[SHOELUVRSIS]

Macca I dont know what gave you the impression I liked Yoko's work,
all she does is schreech and her singing, well it
isnt that special (i've heard better at kareoke bars)
I am aware about her breaking the inner circle which is a very
important point but that falls on Johns shoulders the way I see it.
i have seen recordings of the Beatles in the studio with Yoko
there and putting her 2 cents in -
I dont blame the guys for saying f' that,
and as well, as you stated,
they were sorta done so maybe John just didnt give a f!?* how they
felt having her there, and said later to them.
kinda all makes sense.

[macca]

Yeah.....but NOW.......some of the stuff she's pulled off would even PO the casual Beatles/John fan. Let me see if I can name the top 2: Oh yeah...trying to profit off of John's murder by trying to sell his blood stained shirt and the glasses he was wearing the night he got shot. I guess we'll never know why she wants everything in "her spin" opposed to how things really are and how they should be. I'm still scratching my head on why they had to take Imagine, Plastic Ono Band and Mind Games and remaster them to "her ears". Christ...with the technology, they could have used the master tapes...."bake them" and then do the remaster.

As much as I love John's music, I often wondered how long I could sit still(had he lived and toured) until I had to make a "bathroom run". Somehow, I still have visions of them climing into a bag....him singing and her.....doing whatever she calls it.

[ZEBRAFREAK]

Yoko Really Rocked In "Rock And Roll Circus"!!!


Not!!!

[macca]

If she gets in the bag again, can we close it?

[SHOELUVRSIS]

Ahhhh-haaaaa!

[macca]

Can I take that as a YES?!? :D

[SHOELUVRSIS]

..;)..

[shoeluvr]

ok, we saw LENNON yesterday. We all totally loved it. It was my kids first play, they we very impressed with the theater itself, and the actors being so close to us, and so talented. I agree. But I loved the story as well. I can see how people are saying its slanted towards yoko's side of things, but I really don't know enough about the Beatles story to know any better. Greg gave me abook to read and I will let you guys know what I think after that., I can say this, the last few scenes got VERY emotional. It was so sad, they also had a lot of pictures in the backround of John and his family. Greg said it was the best fathers day gift ever. vertict= 2 thumbs up

[SHOELUVRSIS]

nice dirtbag, real nice maybe i'll go c it now!