Photo: Press
David Bowie’s vast catalogue of hit songs and seminal albums have helped shape an impeccable legacy, but the 68-year-old’s Broadway career isn’t going quite as swimmingly. Lazarus, a new musical co-written by Bowie and featuring the superstar’s songs, has garnered mixed reviews after its opening night.
While becoming the quickest selling show in the history of the 200-seater New York Theater Workshop, some critics branded the production as “pretentious” and “weird.” Playing until 20 January, it includes reworked classics from the ‘Space Oddity’ icon as well as brand new material.
The New York Times had mixed feelings, praising the show’s protagonist (Dexter’s Michael C. Hall), but faulted the show’s clumsy transition between script and songs.
However, The Guardian gave Lazarus four stars – lauding the “unapologetically weird” format of the “thrilling theatrical odyssey.”
Bowie takes inspiration from his role in the the 1976 film The Man Who Fell to Earth – with co-writing duties bestowed to Irish playwright Enda Walsh (Once).
The story follows humanoid alien, Thomas Newton, who becomes stranded after travelling to Earth in hunt of water for his drought-ridden planet.
Time Out posted a middling write-up, concluding: “Any marriage of Bowie’s hits to a theatrical structure is bound to be unstable, especially if the end goal is not a jukebox musical, but Walsh’s lack of originality and depth makes the enterprise seem more earthbound.”
In a very positive review, Rolling Stone joined Hall’s plaudits – commending his astonishingly Bowie-esque “cutting vocal tone”. Their verdict continues: “the plot is coherent, the songs are great and the performances are kinetic.”
Producer Tony Visconti has revealed that Bowie’s upcoming 25th album, Blackstar, was inspired by Kendrick Lamar and features collaborations with LCD Soundystem’s James Murphy. The LP will be released on 8 January 2016 to mark his 69th birthday.
