Risewants to be an inspiring drama.
More accurate to describe it, unfortunately, as a drama about wanting to be inspirational.
(Track 1 on the soundtrack?
Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC
Cmon, Lou, get to the Cabinet Battles!)
And where Tracey was already prepping yet another performance ofGrease, Lous got big ideas.
He wants to stageSpring Awakening, the Duncan Sheik/Steven Sater musical.
Cravalho and Gillespie are endearing performers, playing endearing characters.
Theyre surrounded by an ensemble of endearments.
Gwen (Amy Forsyth) is a somewhat mean-ish girl whos not really that mean and is very talented.
You feel that some edges have been sanded off here.
But theres a problem: The adults wont get out of the way.
Lous prone to big speeches, but doesnt seem to grasp the most basic aspects of theater craft.
I may not know stage left from stage right, he tells Gwen.
I may never know.
And theres something immediately empty in howRisetakes Lous inspirational qualities for granted.
During his audition, Robbie gives a bad performance, because hes never acted before.
Good directin there, Teach!
Risecomes from Jason Katims, the sensitive showrunner behindFriday Night LightsandParenthood.
OnRise, the first mention of the Jumbotron leads to a speech by Tracey aboutthe importance of art.
What does football do, she asks, but give these kids concussions?
AndRisegoes further off-book with deviations into Lous home life.
But it falls when it insists the real hero is the guy convincing them to be themselves.B-
