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"The Last Ship," the first Broadway musical written by Sting,
opened on Oct. 26 to mixed reviews, winning praise for his
rousing score but losing points for its confused, tangled story.
Ticket sales flagged, with the show losing a reported $75,000 a
week since previews began, and the former front man of rock
group the Police announced he would join the cast for a limited
time.
Sting, 63, replaced British actor Jimmy Nail as Jackie White on
Dec. 9 as the foreman of the closed shipyard in the town of
Wallsend. In the first full week of Sting's performances, ticket
sales rose to more than $817,000 from $491,000 the previous
week.
"Brave captain takes the helm," said the New York Post in a
headline on Monday, while USA Today added: "Sting steers 'Last
Ship' with pride, charisma."
"Sting approaches Jackie with the same graciousness and
serious-mindedness he brought to the 'Ship's' music and lyrics,"
USA Today added.
The musical follows Gideon Fletcher, a shipbuilder's son who
leaves his girlfriend and his hometown in search of a better
life. He returns 15 years later, after his father's death, to a
town hit by recession, where the shipyard has shut its doors and
his lover has moved on.
Gideon decides to join the unemployed shipyard workers who take
over the yard at the urging of the town's priest to build one
last ship.
The trade magazine Variety described the show as "dark and
gorgeously melodic" and credited Sting with galvanizing the
cast, as well as the box office.
"Although he plays a secondary role in the show, Sting is a huge
presence, electrifying the house in his two big solos and
inspiring the other members of the ensemble, who now perform as
if possessed," it said.
The New York Times said Sting's foreman seems a less pivotal
figure than with Nail in the role but added his acting is
"capable and efficient."
"His Jackie seems a leader more by the quiet integrity of his
advice than his animal spirits," it said.
The newspaper added that despite some flaws, "'The Last Ship'
remains a musically entrancing show performed with grit and
passion by an excellent cast."
(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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Rock
star Sting buoys 'The Last Ship' with Broadway role
