I’ve never read a Nicholas Sparks novel–King of the Tear Jerkers–but his best selling The Notebook has made the transition to a movie and now a musical.
“The Notebook is a 2004 American romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes, from a screenplay by Jeremy Leven and Jan Sardi, and based on the 1996 novel of the same title by Nicholas Sparks. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s. Their story is read from a notebook in the modern day by an elderly man, telling the tale to a fellow nursing home resident… The film was a sleeper hit at the box office, grossing $117 million against its $29 million budget… The MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss went to Gosling and McAdams at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards.”
The musical follows the novel while featuring a number of flashbacks of the young couple. Then the musical returns to the Present where the now aged couple live in a nursing home. I found the music unremarkable. The three sets of characters–Younger, Middle, and Older–performed well with the predictable storyline.
The Notebook treats of problems of aging with some sensitivity. But, it’s not my cup of tea. GRADE: C
Musical numbers:
| Act I “Time” – Older Noah, Middle Allie, Middle Noah, Younger Allie, Younger Noah, Ensemble “Dance With Me” – Fin, Younger Noah, Georgie “Carry You Home” – Younger Noah, Younger Allie “Blue Shutters” – Younger Noah “I Paint” – Younger Allie “Sadness and Joy” – Younger Allie, Younger Noah “Leave the Light On” – Middle Noah, Ensemble “What Happens” – Middle Allie “I Wanna Go Back” – Middle Allie, Younger Allie “If This Is Love” – Younger Allie, Middle Allie “Kiss Me” – Younger Allie, Younger Noah, Middle Allie, Middle Noah, Ensemble “Home” – Younger Allie, Younger Noah, Middle Allie, Middle Noah, Ensemble | Act II “We Have To Try” – Younger Allie, Younger Noah, Middle Allie, Middle Noah “Forever” – Middle Allie, Middle Noah, Younger Allie, Younger Noah, Ensemble “Sadness and Joy (Reprise)” – Middle Allie “Iron in the Fridge” – Older Noah, Middle Noah, Younger Noah “Don’t You Worry” – Allie’s Mother, Middle Allie “It’s Not Easy” – Middle Noah, Middle Allie “My Days” – Middle Allie” I Love You More” – Middle Noah, Middle Allie, Younger Noah, Younger Allie, Ensemble “I Know” – Older Allie, Older Noah, Ensemble “Coda” – The Company |
I’m pretty sure I saw the movie a long time back (wife’s choice) and found it well acted but sappy! I have no interest in hearing all that melodrama being sung!
Bob, “sappy” is too strong a word for this musical version of THE NOTEBOOK. But, it is predictable and sad.
“Not my cup of tea” is putting it mildly. This is a hard pass for me.
Deb, the Sold Out Shea’s Performing Arts Center–80% women for this performance–gave the cast plenty of applause at the end of the musical. I’m sure fans of HALLMARK movies would enjoy this version of THE NOTEBOOK.
Ick
Jeff, Katie saw THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL on Broadway last year. She got an inexpensive ticket, $30 I think, and decided to attend. Katie told Diane afterwards that she liked it more than she thought she would. Diane also liked THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL.
Jackie said you should have let Diane take a friend to fill your seat.
Jeff, actually, Diane and her friend Cindy were supposed to go to THE NOTEBOOK: THE MUSICAL together. But…Cindy called Diane the morning of the performance saying she was sick. So guess who got to fill in…
The problem for me is none of these musicals have decent music written for them. I remember when the music was the most important element, not the least.
Patti, I agree. The music seems to be an afterthought to the action on the stage.