No glory in 'Glory Days'

Steven Booth and Jesse JP Johnson star in "Glory Days", a new musical by Nick Blaemire, 23, and James Gardiner, 24, about four friends who reunite one year after high school graduation to discover how dramatically their lives have grown apart. (Ari Mintz/Newsday)

By Matt Windman

10:22 AM EDT, May 6, 2008

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We guarantee that anyone who sees the new Broadway musical "Glory Days," which was written by two lucky 23 year olds, will be stunned. But not in a good way. After enduring all 90 painful minutes of this undercooked, horribly amateurish show, you'll be wondering how the hell it got to Broadway.

Taking place one night on a deserted high school football field, "Glory Days" looks at four male best friends who reunite a year after their high school graduation. Besides a few details about a proposed prank, all that really happens in "Glory Days" is that one of the guys admits to being gay and another acts homophobic. And then the show ends. No real conflict. No resolution. The show just stops.

Don't get us started on how cheap the show looks. It's just four guys, bleachers and stadium lights. Seriously, who would pay $100 for that?

Except for one short solo about a college road trip, everything in its light rock score is generic, forgettable or just plain bad. At one point, "Jewish" is rhymed with "blue-ish."

Our "no stars" rating could also describe the cast. The young male quartet (Steven Booth, Andrew Call, Adam Halpin, Jesse Johnson) tries its best, but none possesses any charm, personality or vocal chops. Jonathan Groff of "Spring Awakening" has more talent in one pinky finger than all of them put together.

What's most sad about "Glory Days" is that its producers could have spent their money bringing a really wonderful musical like "Next to Normal" to Broadway. Instead, we've received a pathetic attempt to cash in on the "High School Musical" fad, the "Spring Awakening" audience, and the familiarity of Bruce Springsteen's song "Glory Days."

We are not saying that having young, unknown songwriters on Broadway is a bad thing. It's actually great. But with all due respect to Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner, "Glory Days" does not belong on Broadway. Better luck next time, guys.

Circle in the Square, W 50th St. between Broadway and 8th Ave, 212-239-6200, $26.50-97.50. Mon, Wed-Fri 8pm, Sat 2 & 8pm, Sun 3 & 7pm. Open Run.