Only the Good Die Young

I love Billy Joel. And when I heard that there was a musical that was based on Joel's songs, I knew it would be amazing. To this day Movin' Out is still one of my favorite shows.

I find this show quite different from most Broadway musicals. Usually in a musical the characters break into random song in the middle of their dialogue. But in Movin' Out there is no dialogue, just Joel's famous songs. The dancing, choreographed by the very talented Twyla Tharp, acts almost as the dialogue because there is so much emotion behind it. The characters of the show are all based on those that appeared in Joel's songs. The story takes place in the '60s and is based around five people: Brenda and Eddie, a couple, James and Judy, also a couple, and Tony, who is friends with Eddie and James. The three guys are sent to Vietnam. James dies in Vietnam and Tony and Eddie return to broken lives. In the end Judy brings them all together to remember James and the four friends try to start anew.

Yes, it does sound a bit cliche. But with the lack of dialogue, it does not really come off that way. And the music fits so perfect, as if he wrote these songs to tell this story. The music is played by a live band, with the Piano Man singing on a platform above the stage. When I saw the show, James Fox was the Piano Man, and he sang the songs with great power and emotion. I was a little worried that the songs would not be as good without Joel singing them, but Fox proved me wrong. Billy Joel actually appeared at the opening of Movin' Out in my city. I went to closing night with hopes he would appear again. He did not unfortunately, but that was alright; the show was still amazing.

The dancing is what really makes the show though. It amazes me how dancers can tell a story with their body movements. And the dancers for this show do an amazing job at it. In his blog, JK's TheatreScene, JK describes that "the dance that is presented for each song brings out the depth and pain that is hidden throughout the songs". If you have seen this show, then you would agree. They are able to portray such strong emotions, that I actually cried in some scenes. I believe it takes great talent to make an audience member cry without uttering a word. It also shows what a great songwriter Billy Joel is.

Movin' Out is not the only one of its kind. What I mean is that this show is classified as a jukebox musical. A jukebox musical, as wikipedia puts it, "is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score". Other such musicals include Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys. But Movin' Out is nothing like these other musicals. In his review for the New York Times, Ben Brantly states

Nor does "Movin' Out" trade as obviously as "Mamma Mia!" does on what might be
called the karaoke quotient: the pleasure in listening to familiar feel-good
music that makes you want to sing along.

In shows like Mamma Mia you know the songs and want to sing along. Not so in Movin' Out. Although you may know the words you do not feel compelled to sing along. You will be to0 riveted by what is going on on the stage to bother with singing. And that is what makes this show great.