Duncan Sheik's Final Musical, 'Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen,' Criticized for Awkwardness

Duncan Sheik, the Grammy-winning composer behind the musical "Spring Awakening" and singer of the hit song "Barely Breathing," died last month at age 56. His final off-Broadway musical, "Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen," which was nearing previews at the time of his death, has opened to a largely critical reception.

The show, currently running at the Culture Club in Chelsea, is described as "clumsy and uncomfortable," according to a review in the New York Post. The musical, set in a Parisian brothel, is noted for its lack of sensuality and humor, with attempts at humor falling flat and direction criticized for its lack of elegance. The show's book, by Leah Nanako Winkler, is based on a Japanese manga and is called a "ham-handed collection of cliches and cartoons."

Despite the overall critique, the score by Sheik is not identified as the primary issue. Some songs, particularly those performed by Sophia Anne Caruso as the character Colette, are singled out as emotive and rousing. Caruso's vocal performance is called the musical's "greatest asset," with her voice described as reminiscent of Edith Piaf. Her rendition of the songs is credited with momentarily elevating the production.

The musical's setting, an immersive club environment called the Night Egg, is described as visually striking but ultimately contributing to a sense of déjà vu, similar to other recent productions. The set design by Scott Pask is called pretty but bland, and director Rob Ashford's staging is criticized for lacking creative use of the space, resulting in "a lot of walking in circles and writhing."

The plot centers on Colette, a prostitute who is tasked by a writer named Mr. Sakae to answer four questions: What makes you laugh? What makes you cry? What do you long for? And what is your perversion? The review suggests that while Colette's character has some depth, the overall narrative struggles to find its footing.

"Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen" runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. The review concludes by suggesting that for those interested in Sheik's work at its height, a revival of "Spring Awakening" scheduled for November would be a better choice than experiencing "Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen."