An American in Paris first performance

[Teleferix]

Posted: 11/21/14 at 6:59pm

It is usually hard to be a Broadway fan when you are not living in NYC or even not American at all. It is my case as I'm French. But tonight, the best place to be was definitely the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, where the first performance ever of An American in Paris took place.

I have seen a lot of musicals, including a dozen of Broadway performances as I was in NYC this summer, but tonight, waiting two hours in the cold for such a show was absolutely justified. It was incredible. Simply incredible. Accurate and smart, beautiful and glamourous, moving and exciting two and a half hours long.

I won't tell you about the story. It would be a nonsense because you totally have to discover it yourself (even if you have seen the movie). But I can assure you that the cast was perfect, extremely precise, always in tune and radiating powerful waves of emotion and happiness in the audience. And as a real Parisian, I can also ensure you that the set was an amazing representation of what the Paris of my dreams looks like, both classical and suggested with finesse. And the costums and hairstyles were perfectly fitting too the fashion of the end of the forties

The show itself was as I said really good. Brilliant main characters, a fantastic ensemble and powerul ballets on a completely new orchestration is all what I can tell you without spoiling the script or the dance. Of course, as it was a rehearsal, not everything worked perfectly, but it was all about material concerns and only one or two failed dance movements (essentially, the problems were about the subtitles that help the French spectators to understand the musical).

It is not so easy to please a French audience but tonight, the cast had to come back twice on stage because we couldn't stop clapping. The only question that I have is how many Tony will they win next year ?

I really wanted to share my experience of tonight with you. Don't miss it when on Broadway in april 2015 (I really have to buy a second ticket to see it again). Please also excuse me if my English is not perfect.

T.PARIS.

[Starship]

Posted: 11/21/14 at 7:45pm

Your English was terrific. Glad you had fun and many thanks for sharing!

[Len Gersten]

Posted: 11/21/14 at 8:08pm

Thanks for your comments on the production you saw. An American in Paris is one of my all-time favorite Gene Kelly (and Leslie Caron) movie musicals and I am looking forward to the stage version coming soon to Broadway. Your reaction makes me want to see it all the more!!

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/21/14 at 11:59pm

Thank you for this glowing review. I have great hopes for this show and I will be in Paris for the official "opening night" next month. I will also be in the opening night audience in New York in April. Anything specific to report about Robert Fairchild's performance and anything to say about Christopher Whelldon's direction and just as important how contemporary was his choreography. I feel confident the great 2nd act "dream ballet" was no doubt killer great.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 12:07am

Thanks for sharing. I love the movie and am having so much fun with the return of the big dancing musical.

I have hope for this. Lots of it.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 12:21am

I didn't realize Wheeldon was choreographing this--what an inspired choice!

[Teleferix]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 6:32am

Thanks for your answers ! The opening night will probably be amazing (especially in Paris).

Robert Fairchild did a pretty awesome performance, in a really different way that Gene Kelly I think. It was to me lighter, finally not so Gershwin-style looking, but contemporary dance has evolved so much over fifty years that it would be hard to make an objective comparison.

The ballets (and of course the second act dream ballet) are what enhanced the show a lot, making it maybe more interesting than an average musical.

Christopher Whelldon created a resolutely contemporary choreography (and it is also the case of costums and the scenery) mixing classical dance, swing inspiration and modern moves with a great sensitivity.

It will also be interesting to see whether they will keep all the references to French Occupation, because I'm not sure that all the spectators (with all the tourists) will understand them. (The script is more elaborate than usually done I have to admit)

T.PARIS

[skylight2]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 7:02am

I want to hear about Max von Essen.

Thanks!

[HorseTears]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 7:55am

Teleferix - thanks for the lovely review. You've got me pumped! Can't wait to see this show next year.

[rjm516]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 10:06am

Thanks for sharing! I've recently moved from NYC to London, and while (thank god) there is a theatre scene here, I really miss all the NYC theatre. But Paris is so close I guess I have to go see this now!

[Teleferix]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 10:18am

It is true that with the Eurostar, it should be easy for you to come in Paris (and actually not so expensive because the best tickets are only at 85€. Broadway is soooo expensive...)

Max von Essen is playing Henri Baurel and is a really convincing parisian dandy. The audience appreciated a lot its solo performances (but I can't tell you more or in mp) and I have to admit that he embodies the image of the Parisian man of the end of the forties. I never saw him before so I am unable to make a comparison but he surely showed us the sweep of his talent.

T.PARIS

[matineeidol2591]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 6:05pm

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/french-debut-39-american-paris-154915337.html

A little video I found. It looks lovely! So chic.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 6:15pm

Thanks for the report, Teleferix!

[HorseTears]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 6:20pm

Gosh, the orchestra sounds rough in that clip. So... squeaky.

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/22/14 at 11:08pm

First, this is unadorned rehearsal footage so don't be too concerned. However, For the B'way production I do hope the orchestra will be no less than 21 members. No matter how I work it out, in order to keep the basic richness of the major orchestral works, it seems no less than 2trpts, 2horns, 2 trbs (1dbl tuba), 2flts(1dbl piccolo) 1 oboe (dbl engl hn) 2 clts (bth triple alto, tnr and bass sax), pno, perc, tmp. midi keyboard/computer, 4vlns, 2 cellos are minimum. Rob Fischer who is working this production is brilliant but there is a limit. Can anyone comment. The current "On The Town" has 24 in the pit and it works beautifully.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 12:40am

On the Town has 28 in the pit.

Can't agree with you about Rob Fisher... at all.

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 10:53am

Would you care to detail re: Rob Fischer?

[rjm516]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 10:55am

Someone loves instruments and hates vowels.

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 10:58am

Do they have a specific date/theater yet for when it comes to New York?

[Teleferix]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 11:15am

Rob Fisher did I think a pretty good job with a nice new orchestration, adding new parts to the musical and dealing with a small orchestra (21 musicians). The Théâtre du Châtelet can actually welcome more musicians under the stage but not the Broadway theatres so Rob designed its music in order to fit a smaller theatre and the result is great.

[Keiichi2]

Posted: 11/23/14 at 12:39pm

humbugfoto: The musical will be at the Palace Theater. Previews start March 13, opening night is April 12.

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 9:54am

I just received this small video re: An American in Paris that is currently previewing at The Theater Chatelet in Paris. It will play until mid-January and make its way to New York for March previews and an April 12 premiere at the Palace Theater.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2b0kmp_an-american-in-paris-premiere-preview_music

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 10:14am

Thanks, Teleferix! Looking forward to this. And to seeing Robbie Fairchild and Max Von Essen.

Are there ballets set to both Rhapsody in Blue and the Concerto in F?

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:07am

Hello PalJoey,

Small thing, but I posted the link. I don't believe there is any RHAPSODY IN BLUE incorporated in the show. The big ballet sequence in act II is and will be a reworking of the orchestral work AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (what a coincidence huh) plus plenty of thematic musical reference of this work throughout the show. The Concerto in F is also featured.

[Curious3]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:57am

For those of you not familiar with the full orchestral work (tone poem) of An American in Paris by George Gershwin, here is a complete music video of Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In the film as will be in the B'way show, the work is edited down in several sections and several minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ros66y1aZ-E