Profile for Iceberg3

A few reviews...

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/07/29/review-in-lord-of-the-rings-at-chicago-shakes-the-spectacle-competes-with-the-heart-of-the-hobbits/

https://thirdcoastreview.com/2024/07/27/stages-review-chicago-shakespeare-lord-of-the-rings-a-musical-tale

https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/Review-THE-LORD-OF-THE-RINGS-at-Chicago-Shakespeare-Theater-20240729

https://aroundthetownchicago.com/theatre-reviews/the-lord-of-the-rings-a-musical-tale/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2024/07/28/high-intensity-lord-of-the-rings-musical-has-precious-little-time-for-emotional-connections

https://buzznews.net/theatre/theatre-reviews/item/5595-spend-an-evening-in-middle-earth-the-lord-of-the-rings-a-musical-tale-at-the-yard-at-chicago-shakespeare-theater.html

https://www.chicagoonstage.com/a-visually-exciting-but-emotionally-underwhelming-lord-of-the-rings/

My original thoughts is that much of the cast was quite good, though there were a couple of duds (Aargon was just...bad).  Their ability to play their instruments, act, and dance all in one show was quite impressive.

The story was rushed, as expected.  I actually thought the first act's story was more cohesive, w/ the 2nd act being a rush to the finish line.  There are parts of the 2nd act that were great (Gollum), but overall that is where the story just jumps to the end so darn quickly.  Of course, trying to tell a story across 3 books and thousands of pages isn't easy to do in 3 hours and 15 mins (we got out around 10:15pm w/ a 7pm start time).  I don't see how anyone that isn't familiar with the material will be able to follow the show.

When I saw it, the audience was very annoying..which didn't help.  People talking (probably too much alcohol) throughout.  Then, in the second act, the audience kept applauding over and over again at places where I didn't think it was quite appropriate to applaud; it was strange, and sort of reminded me of encouragement one might see at community theatre (love community theatre, don't get me wrong!).

I was surprised that, for the first few songs, I could actually understand the lyrics being sung.  I remember reading that would be an issue; of course, come the 4th or so song, that issue did rear its ugly head and remained through to the end of the show.

My recommendation is - if you want to see it, see it, but I would either hold out for discount tickets (if they are ever offered) or go for the cheapest seats.  I regret paying top dollar for 2nd row seats; had I paid only $20-$30 for tickets, I think I would have felt that I would have got my money's worth more then I did.

 

 

 

 

 

BalconyClub said: "Swing Derek Jordan Taylor played the role of Director at the Sunday, December 10 matinee.
 

And it looks like the day before that Asst. Director DB Bonds probably played that same role, not in costume, with script in hand (due to covid)

https://twitter.com/kkassal/status/1733664966266302562

Now that is something you don't see every day!

According to what I heard last night at Broadway in Chicago's concert, Garðar Thór Cortes will be in the tour cast.  I'm going to assume he will be playing Phantom.