Broadway Breakdown: Episode Summary – "Matt Reviews: REDWOOD"
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Host: Matt Koplik
Podcast: Broadway Breakdown
Episode: Matt Reviews: REDWOOD
Introduction
In the February 14, 2025 episode of Broadway Breakdown, host Matt Koplik delves into his in-depth review of the Broadway musical Redwood. Known for his candid and unfiltered opinions, Matt provides a comprehensive analysis of the production, exploring its strengths and shortcomings.
Initial Impressions
Matt begins by setting the stage for his review, mentioning that he attended a Sunday matinee performance on February 9th:
"If you want to avoid spoilers, that's for you. If you don't care and you know want to know sort of more about why I felt the way I felt, then the rest of the episode is for you." [04:30]
From the outset, Matt is clear about his unfavorable opinion of Redwood:
"First off, right off the bat I will just say I did not care for Redwood. I did not find it to be terribly good." [08:45]
Cast Review
Despite his overall disappointment, Matt acknowledges the strength of the cast:
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Idina Menzel (Jesse): Matt praises Idina's acting prowess, highlighting her nuanced performance despite health challenges during the show.
"Idina did come back and you know, her acting is very strong. ... She has really great deadpan dry delivery and she has a great deal of intuition and a connection with her emotional instrument." [12:15]
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Supporting Cast: Deidra Aziza, Noah Peyser, Michael Park, and Kayla Wilcoxon receive commendations for their solid performances, even if the roles themselves are not well-written.
"Everyone in it is doing, you know, a lot of really lovely work." [10:20]
However, Matt notes that technical issues, such as projections and sound design, detract from the overall experience.
Plot Overview
Redwood centers around Jessie (played by Idina Menzel), a woman grappling with the trauma of her son's death. The narrative follows her journey to a nature preserve where she becomes engrossed in studying redwood trees, seeking solace and escape from her grief. Key plot points include:
- Jessie’s strained relationship with her wife, Deidra Aziza.
- Her son's struggles with substance abuse and eventual accidental overdose.
- Her immersion into the world of tree scientists Becca and Finn, portrayed by Kayla Wilcoxon and Michael Park.
- A climactic scene involving a forest fire where Jessie interacts with a vision of her deceased son, leading to her emotional resolution.
"Redwood in a Nutshell is about a woman… just putting all of her time and her mental capacity into studying the trees with these two and wanting to climb the trees with these two." [16:50]
Themes and Analysis
Matt discusses the thematic exploration of grief, guilt, and the search for meaning amidst loss. He emphasizes the show's intention to portray Jessie’s internal struggle and eventual healing:
"Idina is holding on to a lot of grief and a lot of guilt because of the circumstances of her son's passing." [35:10]
However, he criticizes the resolution as overly simplistic and lacking depth:
"It kind of bothered me because the scene is very pat. It is very squeaky clean. It ties it up with a ribbon." [45:30]
Matt argues that the show fails to embrace the complexity of trauma and healing, instead opting for a neatly packaged conclusion that undermines the protagonist’s genuine emotional journey.
Technical Elements
Projections and Design: Matt is critical of the show's heavy reliance on projections, which he feels appear artificial and detract from the immersive experience:
"A lot of the projections kind of reminded me of is it Pandora? Is that the Avatar World... it was sort of like that." [22:10]
He likens the visual design to "Disney World-esque" aesthetics, lacking the artistic subtlety necessary for a profound theatrical experience.
Sound Design: While praising the backstage orchestral sound, Matt points out issues with vocal clarity:
"The sound design for the voices is bad. It's hard to decipher lyrics sometimes." [32:50]
Score and Music
Matt offers a critical evaluation of the musical score, expressing disappointment with its integration and relevance to the narrative:
"Half of the songs are irrelevant and unnecessary. None of them are exciting, none of them are moving." [50:25]
He highlights "Still" as the standout number, acknowledging its beauty but questioning its contextual placement within the story:
"The song I liked the most is from the scene that I have the biggest issue with. It's the prettiest song in the show." [58:40]
Matt also discusses the challenges of original musicals versus adaptations, suggesting that Redwood struggles with maintaining focus and cohesion through its musical numbers.
Comparisons to Other Works
Drawing parallels to his own screenwriting experiences and other musicals, Matt contrasts Redwood with works like Fun Home, which successfully intertwine personal narratives with musical storytelling:
"Fun Home is the prime example of the 21st century of an intimate musical and is actually really, ultimately about Alison's journey of grieving the loss of her father." [70:15]
In contrast, he feels Redwood fails to achieve a similar level of emotional resonance and narrative focus.
Production and Direction
Matt critiques director Tina Landau’s approach, suggesting a disconnect with traditional musical theater sensibilities:
"I would not necessarily call Tina Landau a musical theater girl. ... She is a very talented artist and a smart person, but I don't think she inherently gets musical theater." [85:00]
He expresses skepticism about the creative decisions made in the production, implying that Landau's vision may not align with the structural needs of a compelling musical.
Tony Award Prospects
Concluding his review, Matt assesses Redwood's chances during the Tony Awards season, expressing doubt due to stiff competition and perceived shortcomings of the production:
"It's simply too crowded a year... just too much for us to just say, well, Idina's trying and we love Adina and she's an icon. The show just doesn't work." [120:10]
He lists other frontrunners and suggests that Redwood is unlikely to secure significant nominations.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Matt wraps up his review by reiterating his disappointment with Redwood, despite recognizing the talent of its cast and creative team. He encourages listeners to form their own opinions while sharing his honest, unfiltered perspective.
"But I think it's going to get a lot more support when the album comes out. ... But I was hoping to enjoy it, we like Idina a great deal and I think Tina is a very talented artist... But I did not find this to work." [115:00]
Notable Quotes
- Matt Koplik: "First off, right off the bat I will just say I did not care for Redwood. I did not find it to be terribly good." [08:45]
- Matt Koplik: "It's a lot of songs that just feel like padding and have no build, they have no structure, they have no arc to them." [55:20]
- Matt Koplik: "She is still sick. And so the voice was being negotiated at our performance. ... when you were watching Adina negotiate and not just interpret and relish, your attention was drawn to the material more." [24:00]
- Matt Koplik: "You gotta walk with that forever. You don't necessarily define yourself by that. You try to do better." [85:30]
Additional Resources
For listeners seeking more detailed discussions or wishing to ask specific questions about Redwood, Matt invites them to join the podcast’s Discord channel, with the link provided in the episode's description box.
Note: This summary aims to encapsulate the key points from Matt Koplik’s review of Redwood on Broadway Breakdown. For a complete understanding and personal perspective, listening to the full episode is recommended.