New York Musical Theatre Festival presents

NAPOLEON

The Alice Griffin Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center
480 West 42nd St.
NY NY 10036

15, 18, 19, 20, 22 July

Book, Music and Lyrics by Andrew Sabiston & Timothy Williams
Directed by Richard Ouzounian

Featuring Matthew Patrick Quinn, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Margaret Loesser Robinson

Napoleon isn’t exactly a simple subject on which to write, let alone write a musical! Andrew Sabiston and Timothy Williams have wisely chosen to focus on the controversial characters of Tallyrand and Josephine in order to streamline the story. This helps, but it is still an awfully big chunk of story to tell in a mere two hours!

A little more streamlining would be useful, as would some stronger melodies. If one is writing about 19th Century France, there is no way to avoid comparisons to Les Miserables, and whatever you think about Les Miz, the melodies soar and lock themselves into your brain. The music of NAPOLEON is fine, but not memorable.

The cast is universally strong, especially Matthew Patrick Quinn as Tallyrand and Margaret Loesser Robinson as a luminous Josephine. In smaller roles, Jack Mosbacher and Christopher J. Nolan are also standouts.

The sets and costumes are simple, yet inventive and evocative.

- Jean Tait -