Profile for EdwinBooth

Totally agree about cutting the live baby. The audience audibly oohs and aahs over the kid (who does look adorable) and can't focus on the music. It's one of those ideas that sounds great but should have been cut long ago in previews. And also concur on the wretched orchestrations.

Vernon, Enjoyed reading your post and hearing about your experience at P & B yesterday. The problem is you really didn't "see an American classic finally". The work presented by A.R.T. is significantly cut, lacks the original orchestration that is an integral part of its glory and mucks with the story line (although not nearly as much as at the beginning of the previews). I have no problem with reinterpreting classics but it works so much better when it truly comes from a place of respect and...

I saw the second preview last evening and have to say the new ending doesn't improve on the original for me. Totally changes Bess's character and the writing is clunky. While the audience gave the performance a standing ovation, to me the over all feeling I was left with was that it was a big turgid (conducting was not great; no big sweep to the lines and shaping). Thrilling to hear Audra in this music, of course. To my ears, Norm sounded overpowered by her in their duets and didn't have the ...