"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
It was a fun night out but I was hoping to like the show more. I saw pre-broadway runs @ Alliance of Aida, Color Purple, Sister Act, etc., and kind of expected the same kind of energy after the show.
The first act was very slow, and only picked up when the "urban" school was introduced. There is a lot of talent in the cast.
Instead of props or evolving backdrops, the show uses video screens to create the atmosphere of the scene. I found this very distracting.
I'm not much of a writer here, but I do love good theatre and just wasn't thrilled this time. It's probably just me.
Ryann Redmond (Bridget) was hilarious and reminded me a bit of Marissa Jaret Winokur. Nick Blaemire (Randall) was great in his hip hop geekster role.
There were some stand out songs, most forgettable. The main problem was with the book, imo. The first 3/4 of the first act lagged and something did not work.
I think the video screens work well in this case. I actually think there's not enough of them (or additional scenery) to fill up the stage. Then again, the performers fill up the stage without resorting to wires and is an amazing feat in itself. Also, people have to remember that this is a work in progress and is still a year or more before NY would even see it. Given that, it has a good storyline, great characters and fun modern songs. Hopefully it will be molded into an amazing show after this try-out.
I saw the show the 2nd preview and it was fun. The music still needs some work, but it seems to be ballad heavy right now. The upbeat songs tend to be more "In The Heights" sounding than "N2N" The dancing is very "In the Heights" to me and it is only fitting since the creative team has a lot of ITH people. I did not like the female lead as her voice couldn't handle the score and it was screechy at times. Helene Yorke is injured and out for now and her understudy, Amanda Lea Lavergne moved up, but she just doesn't have it in my opinion. Gregory Haney is a trip as are Ryann Redmond, Jon Rua, and Adrianne Warren. I loved the set and the screens and thought it helped a lot with telling the story and allowing for scene changes to work better. The dancing was good, but not as energized as I thought it would be. I know the theme is cheer, and the stunts were cool, but I wanted a little more dance especially since the story is more original than a retelling of the movies. They incorporate an urban dance crew rather than another cheer squad, but we hardly see them perform as this great crew. Overall, it is fun and tweens will eat it up! Adults may or may not enjoy it, but I went in thinking one thing and came out thinking something different. I guess I had my own pre conceived notions about the show and what I expected. I do hope they tour first as it will help fine tune things and get it ready for a fun Broadway run.
Theater anywhere, anytime and with anyone. It's my passion.
I meant to mention in my first response, that Adrienne Warren (Danielle), was to me the standout. She had "the shine". I knew she looked familiar, and now see she was in the tour of Dreamgirls.