Songbird NYC Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (40)
See it if You're a fan of country music or stories exploring themes of alcoholism, fame and its effect on relationships. Kate Baldwin is Fantastic!
Don't see it if You don't like country music or slower paced shows. Baldwin electrifies every scene but the show drags a bit when she's not on stage.
See it if you like country western music and Chekhov (actually, make that "or" to widen the audience). Update of The Seagull worked. Engrossing.
Don't see it if you truly dislike CW songs. Some of the lyrics were annoyingly insipid, but the voices were excellent. Good musicianship. Read more
See it if sad but beautiful stories about all kinds of dysfunctional relationships interest you.
Don't see it if you don't like country music.
See it if you enjoy country music and seeing Chekhov performed in an interesting manner.
Don't see it if you don't like country music and slow-paced musicals.
See it if you want to witness a fantastic cast featuring the immensely talented Kate Baldwin. You don't have to like Chekhov to appreciate this show.
Don't see it if you don't like Country music.
See it if you like country, an intimate production, and excellent singing
Don't see it if you want a big production
See it if you know The Seagull inside and out and want to play spot-the-references. You like good country music.
Don't see it if you hate country and need a plot that makes any sense whatsoever without completely extraneous and unfulfilled side plots.
See it if want to see a great cast perform on a small stage.
Don't see it if you are looking for a "blow you out of your seat" musical.
Critic Reviews (26)
"'Songbird' proves to be one of the more successful attempts to transpose Chekhov’s major plays...Powered by a terrific country score, with a strong assist from Kimmel’s smart contemporary version of the text, the show succeeds in snugly reframing the story in the world of country music...Under the finely honed direction of JV Mercanti, all the performers are excellent...The production makes up in earthy humor what it may lack in emotional depth."
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"Pritchard pens warm, catchy tunes, performed with casual ease by the talented cast. The large ensemble genuinely seems to be having fun with each other in JV Mercanti's likable production…Kimmel doesn’t do the greatest job of blending music and story...He has given himself the unenviable task of trying to condense the plot of a four-act Russian classic—and it does feel squeezed."
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"With gorgeous original songs, 'Songbird' is an attractive, albeit sleepy new musical with a distinctively American sound...While the musical performances are spot-on, Michael Kimmel's book scenes make a twee first impression that eventually fades to maudlin...director J.V. Mercanti is never able to push beyond the theme park artifice of the script, leading to our somewhat shallow connection to the story and characters."
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"'Songbird' has a very broad appeal and will please theatre lovers and country music fans as the production combines an intriguing story with excellent music. See this theatrical gem."
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"The idea of setting 'The Seagull' to a Nashville beat isn't entirely bad. But it would probably take a far more ambitious and original approach to make it work, one less slavishly devoted to the original's character and plot structure. 'Songbird' is weighed down by the effort of the book's author, Michael Kimmel, to transpose every detail of the original play into a new context. The result is often airless, an act of pedantry rather than a vital work of drama."
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"Truly, though, this is an ensemble effort, and everyone contributes 110 percent. I do believe, however, that the overall production would have been strengthened by using Chekhov as inspiration rather than as a template. As it stands, too much emphasis has been placed on staying true to 'The Seagull,' leading to predictable and melodramatic plot turns. Despite a slew of first-rate performances, 'Songbird' needs some breathing room of its own in order to soar."
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"'Songbird' is not only an excellent Americanized version of the Chekhov classic but works beautifully in its own right. If it has any flaws, it is that it could use more ideas beyond its source material. Even though the plot will be familiar to those who know 'The Seagull,' it is still a moving, engrossing musical experience. Incidentally, the bird that Dean accidentally kills here is a bluebird, more fitting for a Nashville story."
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"The requisite themes of 'The Seagull' are threaded throughout and each character created in beautiful detail. There’s an enormous amount of talent in the cast and they are ably directed…'Songbird' doesn’t quite thrill. The concept is promising, the actors beautifully cast and clearly interesting, but the music and lyrics are predictable. Somehow the country and western conceit pulls 'The Seagull' into cliché...Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile experience, created with heart and talent."
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