"One of the crucial issues with 'Baghdaddy' is the tone...It is nearly impossible to address the darkness and gravity of the Iraq War when your actors are bouncing off the ceilings...The actors all give committed performances, but there is very little space for complex characters...I kept searching for unity in the music and book to explain why this story is a musical, I never found it...Whenever the show seems to gain steam...the action veers back towards a song that is simply a distraction."
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“A great musical trapped inside of a good musical…The production is sometimes at battle with itself. At its best, it is a touching look at how small, human flaws can escalate toward catastrophe. At its worst, it is sketch comedy, albeit with free donuts and coffee for the audience…Trimming the title was a good idea. Decluttering some of the on-stage action would have been an even better one.”
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"I implore you to grab tickets for 'Baghdaddy,' the slick and clever roller-coaster musical...It’s even more potent now than it originally was...The creators handle the difficult aspects of the show with a great deal of respect and dignity...As smart satire often does, it makes the most unbearable circumstances bearable...Pailet has secured most of his 2015 cast, but the newcomers fit beautifully into the show. Shields’ choreography is sharp and inventive, and musically the show soars."
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"Some of the smart and sharp lyrics might seem provocative, but they never fall off the edge of good taste and are always true to the characters. The energetic and often ironic choreography and charged performances of the entire cast keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire time...The unobtrusive design and the engagement of the space could be developed further, but who cares about this if you have a bomb of a script and an explosive cast in front of you?"
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"The first half is hilarious. It is a musical and political Keystone Cops caper that is presented with the perfect amount of crazy. And then 9/11 hits the narrative and intermission hits the show. The second half is tonally completely different and yet just as perfect...'Baghdaddy' is a marvel. It is the story of a stupid war told with humor and fun, but the correct amount of compassion...Pailet puts his energetic cast through a non-stop emotional ride, and the audience follows with gusto."
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"'Baghdaddy’s' humor is based in the irony of horrific truth, but the musical’s message is as important and informative as it is entertaining...All of the actors here are uniquely exceptional...Marshall Pailet’s direction is on point and clever, though some of his book is a bit too metaphorical and quick for audiences to deftly appreciate. However, the music is catchy, so the book is mostly forgiven."
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“A quick-moving, quick-witted comedy…Individually and as a comprehensive cast, the eight actors are rock solid…Though Pailet’s melodies may not be stuck in your head when you walk out of the theater, they are impressively diverse in style to fit the various scenes during which they occur. The laugh-out-loud lyrics by Penedo certainly will rattle around your brain long after the final bow...‘Baghdaddy’ is compelling, clever and based on a true story."
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"A highly researched and chronological tale of the days that lead up to the Iraq war with a blast of universal humor...The show is often intense but highly comedic with slapstick, witty quips, familiar melodies and above all, clever direction as well as a very talented cast...There are many innovative theatre tricks and gimmicks throughout the show that are brilliantly executed and worth the price of admission alone...This story could be edited down and clarified."
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