Broadway Breakdown: Matt Reviews: Love Life & The Picture of Dorian Gray

Introduction

In the March 30, 2025 episode of Broadway Breakdown, hosted by the unapologetically candid Matt Koplik, listeners are treated to in-depth reviews of two notable Broadway productions: Love Life and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Joined by co-host Cynthia Erivo, Matt delves into the intricacies of these shows, offering a blend of historical context, personal insights, and sharp critique characteristic of his forthright style.

Review of Love Life

Love Life at City Center Encores serves as the primary focus of the episode’s first half. Matt begins by setting the stage for his review:

Matt Koplik [02:48]: "Love Life, currently at City Central Encores... it will be gone by the time most of you listen to this review."

Historical Context and Structure

Matt provides a comprehensive background on Love Life, highlighting its origins and significance in Broadway history:

Matt Koplik [05:00]: "Love Life to many is sort of considered the first major example of what we now know as the concept musical... Hal Prince and Sondheim both have said that Love Life was very influential for them as artists."

He explains that unlike traditional musicals with linear storytelling, Love Life employs a vaudeville-style presentation, exploring the evolution of a marriage alongside the progression of American history from 1791 to 1948. This dual timeline serves as an experimental framework, pushing the boundaries of conventional musical theater.

Performance and Production

Matt praises the cast, particularly Kate Baldwin and Brian Stokes Mitchell, for their compelling performances:

Matt Koplik [11:54]: "It has a lot of talent on stage. It was a very well cast production... There was some really great choreography from Joanne Hunter."

However, he critiques the show's structure and pacing, noting that the disjointed narrative and frequent song interruptions disrupt the flow:

Matt Koplik [11:55]: "The show itself is fascinating... but it is a concept that doesn't totally work. And as a show, it doesn't totally work."

Audience Reception and Personal Insights

Addressing mixed audience reactions, Matt acknowledges the polarized responses:

Matt Koplik [17:38]: "People walking out, people dissuading other people from seeing it. And I understand why."

Despite recognizing the show's flaws, he appreciates its historical value and the effort to revive a forgotten piece of Broadway history:

Matt Koplik [20:34]: "It's interesting to see all the shades of musicals before Love Life and after Love Life that are sort of woven into this show."

Conclusion on Love Life

Matt concludes his review of Love Life by balancing appreciation with critique, ultimately recommending it for its historical significance and performances, while cautioning that its experimental nature may not appeal to all:

Matt Koplik [50:18]: "I think I would rank it in my top five or six this season so far. It's tricky to place it above plays like English Omari and Hills of California that rely on all elements of live theater without a technical marvel at its beck and call to constantly throw an audience off its axis."

Review of The Picture of Dorian Gray

Shifting focus, Matt and Cynthia delve into The Picture of Dorian Gray, a one-woman show starring Sarah Snook. Matt provides an overview of the production and its adaptation from Oscar Wilde’s classic novel:

Matt Koplik [26:56]: "Picture of Dorian Gray is based on the Oscar Wilde novel... it deals with homoerotic undertones, gender and androgyny..."

Innovative Staging and Performance

The production’s innovative use of multimedia and technology is a highlight of Matt’s review:

Matt Koplik [27:03]: "There’s a giant LED screen in the center of the stage... Sarah Snook plays all the characters, utilizing camera operators and pre-recorded elements to bring diverse roles to life."

Matt commends the technical prowess and Sarah Snook’s versatility, yet expresses reservations about the emotional depth and audience engagement:

Matt Koplik [43:07]: "It's very, very impressive and it's often very engaging, but it's not for me. It did not necessarily pull me into the story, but it pulled me into the production."

Critique of Narrative and Emotional Connection

While acknowledging the production’s technical achievements, Matt critiques its lack of emotional resonance:

Matt Koplik [25:44]: "I was impressed almost consistently. I was engaged most of the time. I was never really moved."

He draws parallels with Jesse Green’s review in The New York Times, agreeing with some of the criticisms regarding the production’s emotional detachment:

Matt Koplik [50:18]: "I think Jesse Green's review acknowledges this... it can be very overwhelming."

Tony Predictions and Final Thoughts

In the latter part of the episode, Matt speculates on the potential Tony Award implications for The Picture of Dorian Gray:

Cynthia Erivo [49:50]: "Sarah Snook is all is going to win the Tony for Best Actress in a play... She's going to get nominated."

Matt emphasizes the show's technical strengths while questioning its suitability for major award categories:

Matt Koplik [54:24]: "It's not for me an absolute 10 out of 10. I wouldn't even really give it a 9 out of 10... It's tricky to place it above plays like English Omari and Hills of California."

Conclusion

Wrapping up, Matt reiterates his appreciation for both productions’ innovative aspects while maintaining his critical perspective on their execution. He encourages listeners to form their own opinions and engage with the shows:

Matt Koplik [55:06]: "Thank you so much for listening, guys... I hope you guys enjoyed it. Even if you didn't agree with what I had to say about either Love Life or Picture of Dorian Gray."

Notable Quotes

• Matt Koplik [02:17]: "Hello all you future lovers both out in proud and on the DL... today we are covering Love Life..."

• Cynthia Erivo [05:33]: "So."

• Matt Koplik [17:25]: "Like, she's gonna go out and she's gonna find a Mr. Right..."

• Cynthia Erivo [50:18]: "I think I would rank it in my top five or six this season so far."

Final Thoughts

This episode of Broadway Breakdown offers a nuanced exploration of two distinct Broadway productions, balancing historical appreciation with candid critique. Matt Koplik’s unapologetic opinions and deep theatrical knowledge provide listeners with a thorough understanding of Love Life and The Picture of Dorian Gray, encouraging both appreciation and critical analysis of contemporary Broadway offerings.