Profile for Mitch101

Stay in your seats so you can experience all of the magic of the lighting and get a better view of the singers and band. You have excellent seats.

I can only speak (this week) to what I saw at the Armory… but having seen all of this seasons musicals Illinoise is by far the best musical of the season. Stunning night. 

LOTS OF SPOILERS!!!!

I will try to contribute a little bit more to your worthy pan. In its current state, the show is such a huge misfire. Where you righty lay the blame is on the director. What a monumental disaster of direction. Every wrong choice from set design to lighting to casting that could be made to sabotage a new work has been made. How this man (the artistic director) was approved to direct this, after Craig Lucas has worked with such greats, is the real mystery here.

A very talented cast, who never knew a vocal riff they couldn’t sing, in one of the most cheap and misguided revivals in years. All blame must rest with the inept director who also tortured us with The Notebook. Dear producers… fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice…

At least Lempicka has energy. Suffs commits the biggest crime of all…boredom.

These reviews are much better than I predicted. I was wrong about the critics reception. Now, as for my thoughts on the show, I refer you to my prediction of the critics reviews.

Mostly negative. Forgettable cast in a fairly boring adaptation. Rumble will get all the attention despite it being cool stylistically but lacks a dramatic arc. 

I won’t beat this dead horse, but your post is perfect. The show has such talent on stage, but the production team failed on all levels (except maybe the Emerald City vogue scene at the top of Act Two). 
 

Perhaps this will signal the end of the directing career for Shele Williams who butchered two beloved properties this season. (The Notebook is the other, featuring some of worst direction I’ve ever seen in any show)

 

Likewise. What worked at The Public is now gone. What a bore. I don't have anything more to say. At least the awful Lempicka had some cool visuals and amazing orchestrations and Amber Iman. Suffs is a wikepedia snooze fest.

My friend and I used that forced standing ovation to make an easy and fast exit. This was such a disaster. If anyone can prove the “In the future” concept works I will eat my hat. The evening felt like a director had decided to fire his original collaborators to prove to the world the original success (and awe) was all because of him. What this revival proved is that is not the case. Bring back Bob Crowley!

Why did you think it would not be ready? Are you aware of how many YEARS!!! this show has been in development? It has had two major full productions, as well. The question on my mind is if they made the necessary changes to make this a compelling evening, which was not the case between Williamstown and LaJolla.

This is not solely directed by Michael, and when you see The Wiz revival you will understand why The Notebook direction is so poor. 

Great question! I think the front runners are actually Lempicka, Suffs, and Water for Elephants. This is based on nothing except my having heard the scores, as compared to the brilliant but difficult score to Days of Wine and Roses. I would be shocked if Adam won for best score.

We are both entitled to our opinions.