This season is seeing a plethora of classic books adapted into Broadway plays, The Outsiders, Water for Elephants, The Great Gatsby and The Notebook.
We want to be brief in our review of The Notebook, one of our favorite books of all-time, and arguably the most romantic story ever in the cultural canon, take that Shakespeare and James Cameron.
This play is a dud. It does not live up to the novel or even the movie. More than likely, it will not have you grabbing for a box of Kleenex (infamously sold at the concession stand). Give their marketing team a Tony Award for all the hype that concession received).
Granted. You might cry at the end.
But you’re way more likely to fall asleep than feel emotional as this musical is bogged down in its own sentimentality. The songs often feel tedious and monotonous rather than cathartic or emotional (it’s just one sad Broadway ballad after another sad Broadway ballad).
Because of the musical’s overuse of sentimentality, The Notebook is completely redundant. There are a few scenes that stand up (older Allie lost in her memories; older Allie starting to remember her husband older Noah only to fail and cause chaos (end Act I); and maybe the scene with the kids and grandkids) but nothing in the musical resonates because it just falls into another sappy sad ballad.
Another sad Broadway ballad followed by another sad ballad = shuteye, better sleep, calm, sleep score, pillow, slumber – should we keep naming the most popular sleep apps of 2023. You get the point.
The Notebook Conclusion
Our expectations were too high going into The Notebook. That didn’t help, but at the same time, it’s not a good play due to its overuse of sentimentality. The acting is solid, especially older Allie (Maryanne Plunkett) and older Noah (Dorian Harewood). No question there.
But the younger versions of Allie and Noah don’t move the needle. Their scenes are not memorable and blend together. Also, there’s “younger” Allie and Noah and “middle” Noah and Allie who are basically the same age, only ten years apart. And plot-wise, you want to kill Allie’s mother who basically gets away with her sabotage with a throw away line “I guess I owe you an apology, Noah.” Cue eyeroll.
One very positive thing to say about The Notebook: they will get you at the end, which is something.
But overall, we do not recommend!
The Notebook Musical
The Notebook is nominated for 3 Tony Awards, including Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, and Best Book of a Musical, which we can hardly believe the latter.
The Jitney is in NY writing reviews of Tony nominated plays.
The Notebook musical is currently playing on Broadway.
For more info and tickets click here.
