The Capeman

 Paul Simon's Broadway creation,

The Capeman.

Based on the life of 16 year old Salvador Agron,

on left below, with Tony Hernandez, "The Umbrella Man."

The two were convicted of killing two 16 yr. olds

from a rival gang, in Hells Kitchen, in 1959.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times

called the show a "sad, benumbed spectacle,"

and found that the historical footage of the murderer

overshadowed the show, that nothing in the 

musical could compare with its intensity.

 Rueben Blades was cast as the adult Salvador,

Marc Anthony as the young version.

Paul Simon's songs were praised, 

but his tight-reined control over every aspect of the production

sunk the show in 68 performances.

In 2008, a concert version was mounted at

the Brooklyn Academy Of Music...

and a shortened version of the musical 

(only 90 minutes, compared to the original 3 hours!)

was produced in at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park

in 2010,

with more choreography, more music, and less "book."

Ben Brantley LIKED that one!