"A Bronx Tale," which I never saw, started life as a 1993 movie--my God, 23 years ago!!!!!!!!!--directed by Robert De Niro. De Niro also starred in it as Lorenzo, father of Calogreo (played by Lillo Brancato; what the hell ever happened to him?????) who faces possibility of being mentored by a mob boss (Chaz Palminteri).
Its time period is the Sixties, now a vintage time for New York. Which meant there was a grittiness to it. And therein lies the problem.
Now, with De Niro, in tandem with Jerry Zaks, directing, a book written by Chaz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glen Slater, and choreography by Sergio Trujillo--who??????--this is due to go up at the Paper Mill Playhouse, in Millburn, New Jersey, on February 4, running through March 6.
I hope they are not looking for, or anticipating, a Broadway move, because they most likely will not get it. The trouble with any show set in this gritty and vintage city--"In The Heights" is a notable exception, but then it had Priscilla Lopez, was set in present day, and had a score by then up-and-coming Lin Manuel Miranda--- is that it faces impossible comparison with the show that set the gold standard--"West Side Story." Which, incidentally, Paper Mill is doing from June 1, through June 26. I think I will wait for that one. Just to see the "Somewhere" ballet done on stage is worth it.
In fact, for the Jets, why don't they just get the original cast of "Newsies?" With that nice, young, Andrew Keenan Bolger, as Baby John? Oh, I forgot, he is scheduled to come to Broadway in "Tuck Everlasting!" I cannot wait to see Andrew in this show!
One thing Paper Mill's "A Bronx Tale" does not have is Leonardo DiCaprio! All I can say is--Thank God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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