“Like a lot of current theater that hitches a ride on the Holocaust for dramatic propulsion, ‘Harmony’ makes guilt and anguish its through line, unintentionally suggesting that survival and the solace of music are somehow undeserved. Luckily, after a rough ride of an evening, the finale — offers exquisite evidence to the contrary.”
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“The problem with the train story is that, like other plot points, it is underdeveloped: It seems to have been added for extra weight. And that reflects the fundamental problem that Harmony struggles to overcome...As enjoyable and affecting as ‘Harmony’is—and as timely, with antisemitism on the rise worldwide—it doesn’t make the case that, among all that we must never forget, the Comedian Harmonists merit quite this degree of remembrance.”
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“Though its quality is not consistent throughout, ‘Harmony’ has its high points...This immersive quality is chilling, but doesn’t make up for 'Harmony’s' dissonance.”
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“Lines in ‘Harmony’ about the recurrence of hate against Jews and state oppression in general, fashioned as generalities, are suddenly much more charged. The show — basically a fable — doesn’t meet the moment as much as the moment crashes over it.”
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“The superabundance of characters, narratives and context combine to make for the show’s Achilles’ heel. What is unfortunately missing from ‘Harmony’ is a lyrical melding of the varied elements that should be smoothly combined to create a captivating, and harmonizing, whole.”
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“...’Harmony’ is nonetheless steadily compelling and not infrequently stirring, attributes that speak as much to the Manilow-Sussman craftsmanship as to an intriguing tale long-lost to history.”
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“As a musical, ‘Harmony’ occasionally soars, occasionally stumbles...With a structure that takes fewer chances than one might hope, ‘Harmony’ is nonetheless steadily compelling and not infrequently stirring, attributes that speak as much to the Manilow-Sussman craftsmanship as to an intriguing tale long-lost to history.”
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“Most of characters come off as fairly hackneyed — the rabbi, the doctor, the whorehouse piano player — but all the voices are beautiful. Manilow can write a good love song, and there are a few.”
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