Every year there are more and more musicals based on films. This season there was even a play based on a Hollywood classic. Usually these musicals are based on familiar titles of the silver screen designed to get audiences pay top dollar to see what they know from screen on stage. Hands on a Hardbody however, used a slightly different model.
It's true that the Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio tuner is based on a film, but not a Hollywood blockbuster. It instead uses an award winning documentary film of the same name. The film follows a group of 24 contestants in an endurance and sleep deprivation contest in which the last person to let go of a brand spanking new Nissan Hardbody truck wins.
With a book by Tony and Pulitzer prize winner Doug Wright, Hands on a Hardbody pares the contestants down from 24 to 10. Though the characters have been combined into more simple archetypes, the basic story remains the same. These 10 contestants must keep at least one hand on the truck at all times or they will be disqualified.
One might not think that a musical in which 10 pf the main characters are quite literally affixed to a truck would be terribly exciting. If you were under this impression you would be terribly wrong! Doug wright has taken the basic story of the film and woven it into a story that has wit, charm, and heart. The competition aspect of the story also serves to keep things exciting.
Not only is the book exceptionally good (it should have been nominated for a Tony Award) the music is also wonderful. There are very few "stand out" song or "show stoppers", however, the score perfectly fits each moment, each character, and each level of the competition. The direction by Neil Pepe is fluid and smart. The musical staging by Sergio Trujillo is clever and entertaining. The hardbody of the title becomes a character without even speaking due to the inventiveness of the staging.
In addition to the material, every role was perfectly cast. A lot of people complained that some of the vocals weren't pleasant to listen to. I would say that this is true. The creatives decided to cast people who looked and sounded like these real people probably would. Dale Soules gravelly voice is essential to her character of Janis Curtis. Tony nominated Keala Settle has the most show stopping number in the musical, and the largest voice of the bunch. It's a shame that the musical didn't get a nomination for Best Musical because now America will never be able to see the brilliance of "Joy of the Lord".
Hands on a Hardbody closed on Broadway at The Brooks Atkinson Theater after 38 previews and 38 regular performances. Unlike other flops, this show did not close because it was not of good quality. It closed because it just failed to find it's audience. Perhaps the show would have done better to do another out of town, or to open off Broadway and try to make a transfer on positive press. It's pointless to speculate what might have been. What I DO know is that this show will probably have a strong life at colleges and universities across the country because of it's small set requirements and the ensemble cast. If this show comes to a theater near you, go, and enjoy yourself!
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