NYC Review: New Musical 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'

The show: New musical “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice”

What makes it special"?: Musical based on the 1973 Columbia Pictures motion picture directed by Paul Mazursky and written by Mazursky and Larry Tucker. This production has music by Duncan Sheik (“Spring Awakening”).

The credits: Book by Jonathan Marc Sherman, Music by Duncan Sheik, Lyrics by Duncan Sheik and Amanda Green and Musical Staging by Kelly Devine, features Jennifer Damiano, Jamie Mohamdein, Ana Nogueira, Joél Pérez, Suzanne Vega and Michael Zegen. Scott Elliott directs.

What’s it about?: Set in California in the late ‘60s at the dawn of the coming “Me Decade,” a 30something couple, Bob, a documentarian, and an undefined wife Carol, decides to go on an Esalen-style retreat (“"The Institute at Big Sur") to connect with the sexual revolution and to get in touch with their inner feelings, to feel liberated, to be groovy. They share their newfound insights with another couple, friends Ted and Alice, a more uptight couple who do their best to understand the fast-changing mores of their friends. When affairs emerge it tests the liberalness of the quartet.

Why make a musical of the film?: Why indeed. This production, staged stiffly and with no sense of fun by director Scott Elliott, has no strong point of view. It neither satirizes the period nor tries to glean any particular meaning from the material. The film script, which this production by Jonathan Marc Sherman, is based does not hold up well in terms of comedy nor social satire.

The actors who play the two couple have none of the star spark that gave the film its principal oomph: the ever-wry Robert Culp, the sweet and curious Natalie Wood and — giving the film its comedic zip, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon who both transcend the material and manage to get some laughs. It made Gould a star and both Gould and Cannon received Oscar nominations.

But here there’s little fun, purpose,, chemistry really here (though fans of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” might enjoy seeing Michael Zegan, who play’s Mrs. Maisel’s husband, in the show). The actors playing the two couples seem to be adrift in grappling what the tone of the show is: Ernest, satiric, naturalistic, stylized?

Duncan Sheik’s music is the best thing in the production and he contributes a lovely soft pop/rock score but it sets mood more than reflect scenes or characters., Though Sheik has nailed the period, there’ a certain sameness to it and It’s the equivalent of treading musical waters , awaiting a larger wave that never comes.

At the end xor the day there simply seems no reason offered why there’s a musical version of this now-dated film. And one suspects it’s another case of movie studios casting titles out to get a theater to bite.

In an ofd bit of casting there’s singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega as a kind of hipster guru/musical overseer/narrator. Her professional coolness gives an aura of hip allure but it soon becomes evident that its not enough.

Who will like it?: Those who may be stoned.

Who won’t?: Anyone with a clear head

For the kids?: They’ll be more bored than you.

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The basics: At Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre), 480 West 42nd St). through March 22. For tickets and more info THENEWGROUP.