"A pared-to-the-bone show with an undistinguished score, no pulsing human vitality, and no dramatic tension...Its inertness is not the fault of the five-person cast...A large problem is that Galperin and Kadin, who collaborated on the book, haven’t given the actors fully drawn characters or relationships to play...The draw of a musical about him is not so much what he did but who he was — a complex, enduringly controversial character...Put that onstage and you’d have yourself a show."
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"A factually vague journey through the urban planner’s controversial career. This earnest and disappointing musical biography flattens its fascinating subject. Constantine Maroulis wails impressively through Peter Galperin’s musically interchangeable and lyrically repetitive rock songs, but his performance in the title role is otherwise one-note...Moses’s career lends itself well to a satirical approach...But 'Bulldozer’s' portrait of the ruthless roadmaker is stubbornly pedestrian."
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“Unfortunately, the new rock musical, ‘Bulldozer: The Ballad of Robert Moses,’ isn't the answer. The book by Peter Galperin and Daniel Scot Kadin only superficially covers the subject and the rock score with music and lyrics by Galperin is inappropriate for a story that covers the period 1921 to 1968. Tony nominee and ‘American Idol’ finalist Constantine Maroulis is too bland as Moses to convey the force and drive he had in converting New York into a modern metropolis.”
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“You really don't have to know much about Robert Moses to enjoy isolated aspects of this rock musical...Plot progression is fast and furious as is the cascade of songs...But the book fails to provide the main character with the kind of motivation that will define Moses as a remarkable man with a complex, but definitely not conflicted, personality...What we do see is the outline of an essentially unlikable but obsessed with power man."
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"The cast delivers virtuosic vocal performances that are perfectly in keeping with the virtuosic abilities of Moses himself. Even director Carpenter seems to channel the efficiency of the man himself as she streamlines the drama and deftly utilizes every inch of stage space. The simplicity of the staging allows the cast, the music, and the story to shine while providing space for the audience to draw connections between the political dictators of the past and present."
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“'Bulldozer,' which is decently directed and professionally performed by a hardworking five-member cast, does turn out to be ludicrous in several of its choices...It attempts something of a more balanced portrait, at least initially, although it does so awkwardly...Galperin deserves kudos for attempting something so ambitious as a musical biography of such a complex man. But ‘Bulldozer’ needs work.”
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“An imperfect, but generally enjoyable and informative view into the turbulent career of Moses...Galperin and Kadin whiz through his story and one wishes that there was even more substance here...Still, they’ve packed quite a bit of good stuff...Don’t expect a definitive account of Moses’ historical significance, but do expect to walk away with a thirst for more knowledge about the man...You’ll have this remarkable cast, directed by Carpenter to thank for your piqued curiosity.”
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“A complex story, one that this 95-minute musical can’t begin to tell...Multiple rock numbers that ultimately sound pretty much the same...What we have here, of course, is a history lesson, but one that’s too complicated for this format. It will take more than 95 minutes to read the Pulitzer-winning biography ‘The Power Broker’ by Robert Caro, but it will give you a far better understanding of Robert Moses. Better leave historical musicals to that guy named Hamilton.”
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