Where I Watched It: BroadwayHD
English Audio Description?: No
I have been already regularly calling out material from the obvious targets and victims, regularly targeting Netflix, Amazon, hulu, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Apple Plus, Disney plus, MAX, as well as free services like FreeVee, Roku, and Tubi, not to mention the second tier AMC Plus. I need to keep expanding. So, expect more reviews from me on these streamers aimed at niche audiences, or other services that should be offering it. i think it’s important to talk about why accessibility should just be for the blockbuster mainstream, but that just like with every other group, we are all different and like different things. For the same reason i am pushing AMC Plus and Shudder, I should be pushing a niche service like BroadwayHD.
The thing here is that live theatre, especially Broadway, has been embracing audio description. So it’s very likely that this show ran on broadway with live audio description. That means a script has already been laid out, and there isn’t nearly the work they need to do to make the magic happen. Generally a performance like this is cobbled together from multiple performances, otherwise I’d suggest they just use the audio description for that one performance, but it’s rarely one performance.
This is a musical adaptation of the early 90’s comedy that starred billy Crystal. Obviously, he’s a lot older and wiser, and in the same role, so they needed to change the age of his character. I had no idea billy Crystal (or David Paymer for that matter) had any interest in music theater. but here they are playing brothers, a performing duo, when one of them aspires for something more. It’s that journey, and also the added late stage urgency of it, that makes this musical special. What once was a movie in the 90’s about a rising comedian, has now become a story about accomplishing your life goals even when you are past retirement age.Not only is this an inspirational musical, but it’s funny as hell.
This couldn’t really ever be done by smaller groups. A high school production of this would launch the apocalypse. Community theater directors would be lost. Even a regional theater with money wouldn’t be able to cast it. The only hope is a tour, one that finds someone who is actually a standup comic, and can actually handle what crystal is putting out. This show is so tailor made for him that it makes it hard to believe anyone else could ever touch this. I’m quite surprised this wasn’t an obvious Tony win.
The music is more hit and miss, with some of the numbers being hilarious opportunities for Crystal to make the audience laugh, and others allowing for the female cast to have emotionally resonant songs with actual singing. Crystal is fine on his songs, but he’s light years from Josh Groban vocally. So, actresses like Shoshana Bean, who have treaded many boards, are brought on to even out the show.
It’s hilarious, but without audio description, i never got any set design. I never knew how many people were on stage. no costumes. Entrances and exits were surprises. It’s a shame, and i know musicals can be difficult to describe, but there are a few instrumental breaks and some quieter moments. This would not have been totally without audio description. Even Hamilton, which is pretty non-stop, has audio description on Disney Plus. Something is better than nothing.
So, welcome to my crosshairs BroadwayHD. If we just keep allowing your service to remain inaccessible, then it will remain such, and always feel like this thing that we can’t have or aren’t allowed to participate in. And that is something this dude just cannot abide.
Overall, I’m giving this a grade, because everyone needs to absorb this billly Crystal performance. it might be one of my favorite theatrical performances ever.
Final Grade: A-
