On November 15th 2012, a new musical about evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson opened on Broadway. It had book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford, and music by David Friedman, and David Pomeranz. Having a high profile name like Kathie Lee Gifford attached (especially since she has her own publicity platform) probably made everyone involved believe the show would sell tickets. Unfortunately it didn't, so the question is - what went wrong.
This blog will contain plot spoilers so if you for some reason think that you will see this show in the future and want to be surprised, read no further. You've been warned. Most people have never heard of Aimee Semple McPherson, and that's a shame, because she was an exceptional and interesting woman. The charity that she founded in Los Angeles is still active today.
Scandalous opens on a church revival, where Sister Aimee, as she is called by her followers, is using her own story as a sermon. This type of framing device is used often in contemporary musicals (Leap of Faith used a similar device last season). The music is actually quite good. The tunes are catchy and upbeat, though mostly forgettable. What holds the entire production together is the magnificence of Carolee Carmello in the role of Aimee. Right from the start she captivates you and draws you in. When she is onstage she shines brightly.
The first half of the first act focuses heavily on Aimee's strict Christian upbringing. Her mother was, for lack of a better word, a bible-thumper. If it wasn't in the bible than Aimee was not allowed to do it. This included acting in her schools production of a Shakespearean play. Aimee does not particularly believe in God, or at the very least, doesn't truly understand God.
All of that changes when she meets a Pentecostal missionary by the name of Robert Semple whom she quickly (at least in the musical) falls in love with and marries. The trouble starts around this point. These are all important life moments for the character, and they are very quickly mentioned or glossed over. That seems to be the theme of the entire show.
Rather than being told a good story, in a clear and effective way, we are giving the readers digest version. While the performances are fantastic, most of the characters end up being Characatures of people rather than fleshed out human beings. The show would have done much better to tell less about her life as a whole and focus on one aspect of her life and tell that story well.
The creators have chosen to rush through scenes like her first husbands death, her own near death experience and sickness, the births of her children, and the death of her father. These things are all mentioned in passing, but not shown to the audience in a satisfying way. Much time is wasted on showing the glitz and glamour of Aimee's Hollywood preacher style.
The set and costumes were effective though nothing particularly special. One can't help but feel that in the hands of a more experienced director (this was David Armstrong's first Broadway outing) and producers that more changes may have been made between the Seattle out of town (In which the title of the show was Saving Aimee) and the Broadway birth.
I sincerely hope that somebody tries again to create a musical focusing on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson because she truly was a remarkable woman with a fascinating story. It's just a shame that things didn't go as well for the musical.
Scandalous played it's final performance at The Neil Simon Theater on Broadway on December 9th, 2012. I look forward to the City Centers Encores! Production in 2052.
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