Paul Simon restages songs at BAM from his '90s Broadway flop 'Capeman'
Wednesday, April 2nd 2008, 9:44 AM
Paul Simon revived 'The Capeman' Tuesday night at BAM.
It's always tempting tempting to reconsider the poorly reviewed work of a master.
Who wouldn't love the chance to rewrite history?
Tuesday night, Paul Simon gave a soldout audience at the Brooklyn Academy of Music the chance to do exactly that by restaging songs from his bomb Broadway musical from 10 years ago, "The Capeman."
The evening featured all the music from the show performed almost entirely by guest singers and musicians, some of whom were featured in the original production.
Simon himself injected just one cameo last night (the song "Trailways Bus"), plus an encore of his hit "Late in the Evening."
The concert version of "The Capeman" - which runs through Sunday - is one of three Simon programs unfolding at BAM this month. Another, in mid-April, corrals Simon's work with African and Brazilian rhythms. A final stretch mines his most popular persona - as effete singer-songwriter.
The last two series will feature many more performances by the star himself, aided by various star guests.
So how does "The Capeman" unfurl a decade down the line?
Let's just say it has gained little heft or grace with age. It's still a tepid, ponderous and repetitive affair.
Having said that, last night's show clicked better than the play, or than Simon's under-animated versions of the songs recorded for his own solo CD. The concert scale freed the music from its theatrical pretensions. And many of the guest singers brought care and emotion to the songs.
Another advantage was the decision to break up Simon's songs with some Spanish and doo-wop pieces that influenced them. Little Anthony & The Imperials opened the night with some of their four-part harmony hits, while Oscar Hernandez's Spanish Harlem Orchestra glided gracefully through genre classics like "Esperame en el Cielo."
Seen as a concert, "The Capeman" had its moments. Viewed as a show, it only proved the critics got it right the first time.
jfarber@nydailynews.com
