After yesterday’s superlative Gypsy, tonight I saw another show that ranks as a superlative — the most peculiar musical I’ve ever seen — Dead Outlaw.
It’s based on an allegedly true story of Elmer McCurdy, an outlaw and murderer who was himself killed and mummified before changing several hands and eventually being buried 68 years later. And yes, it’s a musical, composed by David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty). Peculiar, but worth seeing, though probably not to everyone’s taste.
Dead Outlaw is certain better than my matinee show, Smash, based on the TV series from 2012-2013 about the making of a musical called Bombshell, a bio of Marilyn Monroe. I liked the TV version — well, the first season at least — but the musical is a mess, totally all over the place, but mainly preposterous. Too bad, because the score has some nice new numbers by Marc Shaiman, but the usually reliable Susan Stroman’s direction falls short.
Tomorrow: Boop, which just received a pack-leading 11 Drama Desk Award nominations. Who woulda thunk.
