This has not been an easy Broadway season for new shows.
Closing on December 15th is “Swept Away,” the really strange musical that combined seafaring, folk music, and cannibalism.
Yes, I said cannibalism.
“Swept Away” was not the musical version of Lina Wertmuller’s famous movie. Instead, ittook the music of the very inventive Avett Brothers folk-Americana group and combined it with a weird, unpleasant story of sailors in the 1800s who lose their ship at sea and wind up in a row boat. Eventually, they eat one of their party.
The show was capitalized at $14 million. That money has been swept away.
“Swept Away” comes from big people. It stars John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands, Adrian Blake Enscoe and Wayne Duvall. Michael Mayer directed from a John Logan book. They really tried to make something good out of this crazy idea. The performers were fine and so was the music but the set looked like a cheap version of “The Lash Ship” and the story was insane.
Total performances: 32. Plus 20 previews.
“Swept Away” follows Elton John’s musical, “Tammy Faye,” which closes this Saturday night.
