Songs for a New World
TWO STARS | The singing is good but the songs are dated and the venue is totally inappropriate for theatre
Rating: ★★
Company: White Rabbit Productions, Winnipeg
Genre: Musical
Venue: 29 — One88
Songs For a New World features 90 minutes of singing by four talented performers, ably accompanied by a solid keyboardist. The 16 songs, which range in genre from gospel to show tunes, have no narrative connection to one another. They were all written over 20 years ago by an American songwriter named Jason Robert Brown.
Apart from hearing some well-rehearsed voices, there isn't any reason to rush to this show.- Kaj Hasselriis
Apart from hearing some well-rehearsed voices, there isn't any reason to rush to this show. There's no set decoration and the costumes are unremarkable. Instead of celebrating "a new world," the songs portray women and men in traditional gender roles. The women either pine for men or plot against them while the guys fight wars and lead movements.
On top of all that, this show takes place in the worst possible venue, with wide pillars blocking the performers and uncomfortable wooden seats for the poor patrons.
For up to 60 minutes, Songs For a New World might have been tolerable. But at an hour and a half, it's just self-indulgent and uncomfortable.
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