Why is it that theater gets vampires so wrong? Literature and cinema have done, for the most part, right by the creatures. But, theater is either too campy or too boring.
The creators of "Lestat" have been handed a property that could have worked on stage. But, instead of working with just one novel they decided to do a "Lestat's greatest hits" and it fails miserably. I wish the musical would have been a huge debacle with just train wreck qualities. However, it's not even interesting as a failure. It's adjust standard, boring Andrew Lloyd Webber pap.
I'll handle a few elements and give some opinion on what I would have done better. I think there was a lot of talent involved and the actors on stage did the best they could. But, they were done no favors.
The music is not interesting at all. For a show that takes place in France, the Middle East, and New Orleans, the music conjures up none of these places. In fact, the music really conjures up Broadway circa 1987. A real chance was blown with that. Someone like Michael Chiusa could have done well with the concept or even working with an actual rock star. We should have felt some life or danger or sense of place. This was a score that went through a generic music machine.
Before I go on, the one interesting thing in "The Vampire Lestat" is that he becomes a rock star and uses the music to send messages. He is charismatic and sexy. His music is a huge success. So, why not bookend the play with two big moments and make the middle an extended flashback into who he is? That way we see who he is and how he got that way. It also gives the actor a chance for a big opening and closing number. And, it gives the writer a chance to let loose with a fun song and draws the audience right in.
No, we follow a chronological story that is both slow and yet not even vaguely complete. The "love affair" with his mother is just barely discussed in a song called "The Crimson Kiss" and his childhood companion Nicholas is seen as his true love but they never show us. We also never feel his connection with many of the people and Marius might as well not even be in the show.
The best thing about the play, to me, was that they gayed it up. At least Lestat was truly pansexual and the other people in his life were appropriately gay. However, the role of Claudia was too broadly played and I felt they were trying to create a camp icon with her and not a truly tragic figure.
Oh well, what do I know? The show got a standing ovation. I however, went home and watched the movie "Interview with a Vampire" over again and lamented what they could have done on stage.
