For our performance, Shahrouk and I attended a performance of the Broadway musical The Last Ship at the Neil Simon Theatre. The text of the play was written by John Logan and Brian Yorkey, and the musical score was composed by famed musician Sting. The story centers on the recently unemployed shipbuilders of the English town of Wallsend, and their fight to build one last ship. The major plot line sees protagonist Gideon Fletcher return to Wallsend after running away fifteen years prior and attempt to rekindle his relationship with his girlfriend Meg Dawson, whom he left behind. Wallsend was Sting’s real-life hometown, and the musical was inspired in part by his childhood.
Shahrouk and I felt Sting’s score was the production’s best quality. The music evoked real emotion from the audience, and was most effective at adding depth to the plot and characters. The real pain of love was demonstrated through the ballads “August Winds,” “When We Dance,” and “It’s Not the Same Moon.” Emotional conflict was shown through “Island of Souls,” “Dead Man’s Boots,” and “Ghost Story.” And the shipbuilders’ struggle and determination was conveyed to the audience through the upbeat “We’ve Got Now’t Else” and the powerful “Underground River” and “The Last Ship.” The soundtrack can be found on the internet and I suggest listening to some of these numbers.
The plot left us a bit disappointed. Two major storylines were featured (Gideon’s quest to find himself and reclaim Meg; and the shipbuilders’ struggles with unemployment and their determination in building the titular ship) but they did not mesh well together. The story felt disjointed, and a lack of adequate characterization did not serve to remedy this. Whatever the reason may be, plot issues or otherwise, The Last Ship had unusually poor attendance for a new Broadway musical. The poor ticket sales led to the production’s early closure. While attendance increased after composer Sting stepped in to the cast, the show still closed to further avoid losing money. Despite some shortcomings, Shahrouk and I are glad we saw this musical while we had the opportunity.
