Critics, fans pan, dislike and hate Dylan show

NEW YORK, Oct 28 (Reuters) A new musical set to the songs of Bob Dylan has left critics disappointed and fans disillusioned with the iconic musician's decision to allow his songs to be set on the stage.

''The Times They Are A-Changin','' which made its Broadway debut on Thursday night, was conceived and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, who transformed Billy Joel's songs into the Tony-award winning ''Movin' Out'' which enjoyed a successful three-year run on Broadway.

But reviews for the Dylan show found critics saying Tharp's concept, which presents Dylan's songs as a fable about a struggling circus, did little justice to the vivid imagery of the musician's lyrics.

''Mr Dylan is one of the greatest songwriters of the postwar era and Ms Tharp one of its most admired choreographers, so how bad could it be,'' wrote The Wall Street Journal's Terry Teachout. ''Now I know: 'The Times They Are A-Changin' is so bad that it makes you forget how good the songs are.'' The New York Post mocked the show with a headline that said ''Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven help us door,'' playing on the title of one of Dylan's most famed songs.

Some said the musical, first staged last year in San Diego, followed other musical failures including last year's flop ''Lennon'' about the late Beatle.

New York Times' critic Ben Brantley called the Dylan show ''the latest heart-rending episode in Broadway's own reality soap opera, 'When bad shows happen to great songwriters.''' A representative for Dylan did not return calls for comment.

Fans commenting on Internet blogs said the show lacked subtlety and one wondered, ''How could Dylan have given permission for such a thing?'' Dylan approached Tharp three years ago after the success of ''Movin' Out'' and handed over his catalogue to the choreographer, the musical's public relations firm said.

The musical is the once-reclusive rock poet's latest foray out of the purely musical world. He published his autobiography in 2004 and had made several advertising ventures, including appearing in television commercials promoting his new album ''Modern Times,'' Apple's iTunes and iPod and even a Victoria's Secret lingerie ad.

He used the national coffee chain Starbucks to sell his new album and also sold the ''No Direction Home'' soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's Dylan documentary, which aired on America's PBS television channel.

Music critic Dave Marsh said Dylan had followed other musicians branching out into other ventures such as The Who's rock opera ''Tommy.'' ''The joke in The Who circle was they had done everything but 'Tommy On Ice' so I suppose this is better than 'The Bob Dylan Icecapades','' he said.

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