It might just be because of Fangs is one of the very few KD shows I remember.
Most of them have been very forgettable.
Most of them have been very forgettable.Eternal Jamnation: Lost Souls (2014 - Present)
- Thread starter Mushroom
- Start date
Thank you for posting the video, Joe. I mostly agree with your earlier assessment of the show but because of the low-res video I won't presume to pass any firm judgments upon the overall quality of the production since I haven't seen it in person. It does seem that the sound mix is a bit off at times, affecting the balance between the voices and the instrumental track. I also thought that the vocals were occasionally compromised by the microphones, but I've seen this happen in many productions that use vocal amplification, especially productions that combine headset microphones with vigorous dancing. Most of the singers seemed to perform well, though I thought that both of the male leads had voice types that were slightly too "gentle" for some of the songs they performed.
The thing that most impresses me about the production is that it was able to incorporate a simple plot in a way that didn't seem labored or pretentious. It's just not possible to do very much complicated plotting in any 20-30 minute theme park show, nor is it necessary. This I believe is the central problem with many of the shows that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been mounting for the last few years: they try to do too much in too little time, mistaking a short theme park show for a full Broadway production.
The plot here is basic, thematic and is advanced mostly through the song choices. Due to the video's sound quality, I couldn't even understand many of the spoken lines, yet the story was still comprehensible and served its purpose as a framework connecting the songs and staging.
Kings Dominion productions are, at this point, simpler affairs. I do think the park's shows would benefit from an increased budget, but as London Rocks! demonstrates, budget is not the key to putting on a good show. The set for "Eternal Jamnation: Lost Souls" is not elaborate, there are no flashy effects or projections; yet the lighting and the staging still manage to create an atmosphere and help keep the show entertaining. The costumes are good, the performances range from adequate to strong. It's not groundbreaking art, but it's solid. It is what it is, and what it's supposed to be: a seasonal, rock-oriented theme park show that provides 20 minutes of diversion. To me, this is the key to its appeal. I hope that the entertainment budget is increased a bit at Kings Dominion, so that in future productions they can really take advantage of the talent they have and make the most of their more adult approach to entertainment.
As far as the "murder" goes... come on, it's a Halloween show. I find it much less troubling than "Monster Stomp on Ripper Row" staging theme park versions of real, historical mutilation of women.
The thing that most impresses me about the production is that it was able to incorporate a simple plot in a way that didn't seem labored or pretentious. It's just not possible to do very much complicated plotting in any 20-30 minute theme park show, nor is it necessary. This I believe is the central problem with many of the shows that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been mounting for the last few years: they try to do too much in too little time, mistaking a short theme park show for a full Broadway production.
The plot here is basic, thematic and is advanced mostly through the song choices. Due to the video's sound quality, I couldn't even understand many of the spoken lines, yet the story was still comprehensible and served its purpose as a framework connecting the songs and staging.
Kings Dominion productions are, at this point, simpler affairs. I do think the park's shows would benefit from an increased budget, but as London Rocks! demonstrates, budget is not the key to putting on a good show. The set for "Eternal Jamnation: Lost Souls" is not elaborate, there are no flashy effects or projections; yet the lighting and the staging still manage to create an atmosphere and help keep the show entertaining. The costumes are good, the performances range from adequate to strong. It's not groundbreaking art, but it's solid. It is what it is, and what it's supposed to be: a seasonal, rock-oriented theme park show that provides 20 minutes of diversion. To me, this is the key to its appeal. I hope that the entertainment budget is increased a bit at Kings Dominion, so that in future productions they can really take advantage of the talent they have and make the most of their more adult approach to entertainment.
As far as the "murder" goes... come on, it's a Halloween show. I find it much less troubling than "Monster Stomp on Ripper Row" staging theme park versions of real, historical mutilation of women.