A losing bet
THE SHOW S PROBLEM ISN T in the source material. BBC success Blackpool (which was shown stateside on BBC America as Viva Blackpool ) used the same device, but went whole hog with its production numbers, making sure the audience knew it was a musical. In the American version, executive produced by Jackman, it seems like creators are delicately hoping to fold the musical moments into the action. Afraid to make the numbers outr enough, the show stumbles in trying to come off as naturalistic.