See it if You are a fan of small shows that feature singing and dancing.
Don't see it if You are not a fan of James Cagney
See it if You enjoy a clever story (with some little known details about James Cagney) and excellent tap dancing
Don't see it if you are not a tap dance fan
See it if You are a Jimmy Cagney fan, or enjoy good tap dancing.
Don't see it if You dislike musicals
See it if You like shows about successful entertainers and their journey to becoming famous.
Don't see it if You don't like a lot of tap dancing.
See it if You are a fan of Jimmy Cagney and enjoy small-scale musicals that are very well done.
Don't see it if you don't like biographical musicals or prefer your musicals to be large and glitzy.
See it if you're a fan of classic Hollywood & want to be impressed by a small cast with huge talent. Dancing is incredible, dialogue is sharp & witty.
Don't see it if you're looking for a big Broadway production with a large cast.
See it if You enjoy a small but powerful musical with wonderful tap dancing, singing and acting. Don't miss this little gem.
Don't see it if You do not like tap dancing or really good singing and acting.
See it if you are a fan of James Cagney or you love tap dancing.
Don't see it if you are looking for a large scale musical.
"The production of 'Cagney' that just opened at the York feels like a sketch rather than a full picture. There are no sets to speak of, only projections of movie posters and the like...it’s fun to imagine what a large Broadway ensemble could do with those tap numbers, rather than a handful of hardworking actors sweating up a storm to fill the stage. (The potential is there!) Aside from those ambitious set pieces, “Cagney” is pretty standard, with a fine, if conventional, score."
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"Based on this telling, you’d think that Jack Warner had nothing better to do than twirl his villain moustache over Cagney’s career hiccups—in one ridiculous scene, he reads reviews aloud of the actor’s post-Warners financial flops (all made in different years, mind you) before eventually offering up the comeback role. It’s all too ironic given that’s exactly what the creators of this show might be doing, only without the redemption part for nearly anyone involved."
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"While the piece has its problems (namely in Peter Colley's book), Cagney is definitely a crowd-pleaser, one that, like its hero, you can't help but root for. Where 'Cagney' falters is in the exact same spot as most other biographical musicals in the canon. In attempting to condense more than 60 years into just under two and a half hours, certain crucial elements ripe for dramatization — like Cagney's alleged 'pinko sympathies' — get shortchanged in favor of other, less compelling subject matters."
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"'Cagney' isn't crowded with plot, as some bio-musicals tend to be, but it doesn't tell you much about the man either...At its present state, 'Cagney' is certainly entertaining but it always hints of something that wants to be bigger. With a more-involved text and a full-chorus production better framing its star's performance, this musical might start packing some serious heat."
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"'Cagney' reminded me of 'Yankee Doodle Dandy.' The film is a hash of Tinseltown clichés, most of which have little or nothing to do with its subject's life, but whenever there's a musical number, it's golden. 'Cagney' is a rickety vehicle at best, but everyone involved knows how to sell a number - and that's not nothing."
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"If all a musical has going for it are its spine-tingling songs, there are worse things. But when all an original musical has going for it are its spine-tingling numbers that were written by someone else, that's a different story. Unfortunately, it's also the problem plaguing 'Cagney,' the rickety new musical."
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"The production is worth seeing for Creighton's performance as Cagney, but the show 'Cagney!' is in need of some work to match the caliber of his performance."
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"'Cagney' chronicles the career of the iconic star of depression era movies who was equally at home with gun in hand than tap shoes on his feet. A lot is left out but it evokes enough of what made him a legend, and why. And it's one of the most entertaining, big-little musicals currently on offer in Manhattan."
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