Scandalous Preview Thread - Page 2

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:32pm

What did the curtain look like?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 12:52pm

Mike- Get tickets a couple rows back. I think if you were front row center you would be slightly obstructed by the conductor and the plank they walk around. The cast walks up and down the aisles several times, just like Leap too. They have the same urge to turn the theater into a revival tent at times- instead of using the orange and blue stripes of Leap, these are yellow and white.

jacob- I'm pretty sure there was no special show curtain

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 1:40pm

The only reason I am thinking of seeing this show is because I love Carolee Carmello and George Hearn. If this show had a campy KKK singalong number it would be a lot more interesting!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 1:44pm

We saw it last night . It is nowhere near the train wreck described above.

Kathie Lee was sitting off to the side stage right. She was uber friendly to everyone and must have taken a thousand pictures with fans. At intermission she even stood on line to go to the ladies room which was a surprise .Hoda did the same on the left.

Carolee was the whole show & she gave a bravura performance. The supporting cast was fine as well well but the show belonged to her. Her best stage performance to date.

The score was serviceable with most of the songs plot driven. I enjoyed the Chaplin score more. The set as a whole is fine but it is annoying to see the sides of the stage taken up by the rest of the set when not in use. It does cut down the stage.

The choreography is basically non existant. The show ran almost 3 hours. What should be cut are the Irish dancing in Act 1 and the laughingly bad biblical numbers in Act 2 especially the Moses number which the critics will crucify . The Red seat parting is someone holding material across the stage and pulling it back. Lame. Most of the rest seems Ok & cannot see what could be cut but cutting the above numbers from Act 2 should tighten it immensely & take the camp out of it. No need throwing red meat to the critics by leaving them in.

I saw Gantry and that was indeed a train wreck. This is not . Her performance is something to see & as long as she is in it it has a shot. I expect mixed reviews for the show but her reviews will be laudatory. Brantley will kill it as is his want to do with most of the shows he reviews.

Updated On: 10/14/12 at 01:44 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:02pm

Mr Roxy- If you read what I wrote I said it's NOT a campy, fun train wreck. That it was merely boring and had a bland score with terrible lyrics. Being boring is a far greater sin than being a train wreck, which at least can provide some amusement.

Carolee is hindered from giving the spectacular performance you describe because the material lets her down. Yes, she is very good, very committed and in particularly strong voice, even by her standards. But this is not her greatest role to date.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:35pm

This show is an utter "Why?" As Whizzer opined, Leap of Faith redux and if that's not an oxymoron...Will someone please write a good musical for Carolee? She throws herself into this thing hook, line and sinker but balls to the wall can only take you so far without decent material.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 2:38pm

If you did say it was a campy train wreck, I might have regretted trading the tickets I had for next Saturday. But, if it's not that, I am still at having no desire to see it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 4:31pm

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:02pm

Is the set the same as it was in Seattle?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:11pm

It appears to be the same set. Those are the stairs that never leave the stage.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:14pm

Perhaps the stairs were an homage?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:15pm

^ I am glad I am not the only person who thought of that

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 5:51pm

For those who haven't seen it, it is as tack as those pictures make it look.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 7:44pm

Oh wow! That set is horrible!!

[Vectorbabe]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 7:58pm

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/152216-ASK-PLAYBILLCOM-Why-Cant-I-Take-Photos-in-a-Broadway-Theatre

[Vectorbabe]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 7:58pm

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/152216-ASK-PLAYBILLCOM-Why-Cant-I-Take-Photos-in-a-Broadway-Theatre

[dexter3]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:05pm

So I guess it's all the rage for people on broadwayworld to buy tickets to the first preview and bash the show. Sad.

[stevenycguy]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:13pm

While I would personally never pay to see a lengthy first preview (since I like a shorter & more polished final product), it's totally acceptable for a paying audience member (such as via TDF) to post a review of a first preview. At least now I know that if I go to see it, I'm going to pick a 7pm curtain or a matinee since I highly dislike lengthy 8pm shows.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:25pm

Whizzer wasn't particularly harsh on the show, and he is usually quite fair when reviewing a first preview.
But there is a trend when people post about first previews. These posts usually set the tone for the rest of the feedback given by members on here. Good or bad. Remember WOMEN ON THE VERGE? The show literally had no chance after the first preview chatter on the web.

[little_sally]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:29pm

If they were praising the show, you wouldn't mind so much.

[binau]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:33pm

Generally shows get better and not worse during previous though.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:37pm

Generally shows get better and not worse during previous though.

Exactly, and VERGE did. But there were trolls and haters galore trashing it non stop.

Updated On: 10/14/12 at 08:37 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:43pm

Carolee was excellent last night. I really love her as a performer and her voice NEVER disappoints. But, her best role to date is still PARADE. I could listen to that cast recording over and over.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:44pm

Ljay- I think little sally was directing that comment at dexter and not you, but I could be wrong!

You are right that these threads sometimes set the tone, but the first preview also sets the tone for the run as well. Few shows have a creative team as Verge or Motherfvcker With a Hat who are willing to make massive changes during previews.

Dexter- where were you when I posted thoughts after The Heiress, which I loved?

[little_sally]

Posted: 10/14/12 at 8:48pm

Nope, Whizzer, you're right. Wasn't directed towards ljay at all.