The Visit Previews- Page 3

[cardamon]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 11:55pm

Could anyone who was there tonight tell if the seats on the far sides of the orchestra would be obstructed (last four or five seats against the wall)? Those are the only orchestra seats that the discount codes are good for - but they're also only $109 full price, which makes me a little worried that they may be partial view.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 11:56pm

I was in the mezzanine and could see the pianist fanning himself!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/26/15 at 11:59pm

Are you sure, PianoMann? There's no info saying that anywhere I can find.

[getatme]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 12:02am

A friend stopped at the box office this evening to ask about rush. 1 per ID, $29 when the box office opens.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 12:04am

Vintage, I believe that rush info was provided by Telecharge, not through The Visit official website or other rush info channels. It also looks like getatme has confirmed, so thank you!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 12:06am

Whizzer said, in his great review: "I will say I think the less you know about the plot going in, the better. "

How well known is the original play to most people? I know the film, with an added happier ending, is pretty much out of circulation--but I read the play in English AP grade 11--and I know a number of other Canadians around my age who did as well. So I guess it was at some point suggested here for the curriculum--and I remember it led to a lot of great discussion about the ending and the very concept. But, maybe foolishly, I assumed that meant it was a fairly well known play--at least the basic story.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 12:21am

"Really not enough good can be said about Doyle's direction. This, Sher's King and I, Gold's Fun Home and Nicholaw's Something Rotten! will make for one of the toughest categories is recent Tony memory. We really have some wonderful talent directing musicals this season."

Don't forget that a fifth director could be nominated since we have more than seven eligible candidates this season.

Bill Condon-Side Show
Scott Ellis-On the Twentieth Century
Gary Griffin-Honeymoon in Vegas
Des McAnuff-Doctor Zhivago
Diane Paulus-Finding Neverland
John Rando-On the Town
Christopher Wheeldon-An American in Paris

[istoleatv]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 1:42am

I think I saw a different show tonight based on everyone's reviews. I went in and knew nothing of the show, which was great because I really enjoyed the story. Of course Chita was the star of the evening and blew everyone away. I was not impressed with the ensemble, nor the direction. I felt like they were too over the top with their one liners and especially their makeup. Did they get a bunch of free stuff from Sephora tonight? It was very too much, at least from where I was sitting. I also don't think Roger Rees made eye contact with anybody on that stage. Hated his performance. Loved the score, and was pleasantly surprised by the range that Kander and Ebb wrote in. Chita has some great belting notes and her 3 blind mice were vocally amazing - their falsetto harmonies were out of this world. Overall it was a great 1st preview, but I think everyone needs to step up their acting game - especially since they are sharing the stage with a Broadway legend.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 2:31am

I saw th Signature VA production three times back in 2008. I LOVED it. I found it edgy, dark, and weird...just my kind of thing! Keep in mind that my current favorite Broadway show is ON THE TOWN and you'll understand that my taste is eclectic. I love risky, unusual shows as well as feel-good dance-hjeavy musical comedies. In other words, if it offers me something fresh and unique—and is well done—I'm happy. I don't expect everyone to share my enthusiasm, but I would like to think people are excited about something coming along that breaks the mold...into a million little pieces. I'm seeing this on 4/4, and it can't come close enough for me!!!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 7:52am

Eric, I don't think the source material is that well known. I've definitely never heard of it being read in high school lit classes; the Bergman/Quinn film version is available through MOD, but I think it's still a fairly obscure film even with such stars.

Jeffrey,

If we're listing all the possible director nominees don't forget

Kenny Leon- Holler if Ya Hear Me
Joe Mantello- The Last Ship
David Hyde Pierce- It Shoulda Been You
Eric Shaeffer- Gigi

I listed those four because I feel they are the most deserving. (Obviously I'm basing Sam Gold's direction on the off-Broadway production, so I'll have to see how he adjusts to the Circle in the Square. The only other potential nominee's work that I haven't seen is Des McAnuff's, but I'll be there this evening and can size it up then.)

The more I think about The Visit the more I realize how special it is. There's a lot to let sink in.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 8:08am

**SPOILER **

I think one of the most striking and haunting images that Doyle provides is watching the cast practically bathing themselves in the money. It's completely Doyle, and he used something similar in Road Show, but it was so fitting here. This is definitely his best work that I'VE seen.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 8:15am

ljay, I agree about your (spoiler scene) being brilliantly staged.

You can totally envision how he would direct The Threepenny Opera after seeing his work here. He just feels so at home with material like this. Personally I don't know if this tops some of his Sondheim revivals, but it certainly ranks up there for me too.

[h6p8gv]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 10:18am

Anybody have a song list

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 10:26am

It's funny Im seeing postings from people on Facebook saying they did not like the show at all. Will this be a divisive show? They said the book is horrible and the score is unmemorable.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 10:32am

This show will surely divide audiences, but that might be the magic of it. It's certainly not for everyone. I think it's very well written, and the score is much better than Curtains, but not as showy as Scottsboro.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 10:39am

I thought McNally's book was one of his best, but it's also very stylized (that goes for the whole production) and you're either going to very quickly be on board with the severe choices or not. If you don't like the first 10 minutes then nothing that happens after is likely to change your mind about the piece.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 10:42am

Really didn't like anything about the Scottsboro Boys. I didn't like the story, the presentation of the material and he music was forgettable. I have tried too many times to listen to the CD without success.

The Visit was much better for me all around and I catch myself humming several of the tunes.

[PapaGe]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 11:02am

Cardamon--I would avoid sitting far to the left if possible. I was four seats from the left aisle in the mezz and there was some unfortunate obstruction for a song or two. The upper level on stage curves to the left, so I don't think you'd have the same issue on the right side.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 11:26am

Sadly, I think this could struggle to find an audience.

That has always been the problem with the show dating back to the Goodman run. It's intriguing and fascinating, but it's not commercial. Like so many other labors of love, the show always needed strictly philanthropic investors who merely want to see the work produced and disinterested in financial returns. And regardless what ended up on stage, the show was going to be embraced by the musical theatre community. Glad to hear the (mostly) finished product seems to have been worth the money and effort. It's always a boon to see art and commercialism reach meet in the middle and find success, but I think the realists among us know better than to expect it to happen every time. Hopefully, Fun Home can pull it out this year and Hamilton already seems quite promising for next year. But I never expected a Broadway production of The Visit to be anything more than a charitable gift.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 11:36am

^Hopefully, the Tony Awards could be able to help make it a little more commercially successful with the nominations and/or wins.

[BroadwayBaby2012]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 11:37am

I have to say - and I am a fan of the piece - that if I were assessing it in the real light of day - and I am sure I will get attacked for this - that Chita is very effective in it but that is in spite of the fact that she doesn't really have much of a singing voice at all, she is not asked to dance at all in a way that would give the audience a glimpse of her great dance career, and she is not acting much more than tossing off some lines and walking in circles a lot. It feels like a lot of the love for her is for Chita herself and not for the work she is doing. I like her in it but she is hardly giving an acting performance for the ages. Which does not mean I don't revere her capabilities at this point in her life. But it feels like people have decided before going in that they are devoted to her. Which is fine and generous but maybe not exactly based on her work on the stage currently.

I actually thought - despite a couple of sour notes which he can fix - that the reason the piece works is because of Roger. He is heartbreaking and gives the evening stakes and weight. In a 90 minute sort of elegy it is he who must make us feel what is on the line and I thought his work was some of his best in decades. And I thought he made Chita seem like she had an emotional life which I am not sure a lesser acting partner or better singer could have brought out in her like he did. The risk of her giving a camp performance would be multiplied if she wasn't grounded and paired with someone as complex as he is. I think people are taking his work for granted but I can't imagine the evening working without him.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 12:24pm

I am in total agreement about Roger Rees. But I feel what makes Chita's performance so special IS the subtly, the way she underplays much of it, avoiding camp. She can still sell a musical number with finesse.
I've seen several people saying that this is the best acting performance of her career.

[cardamon]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 1:18pm

Thanks for the advice, PapaGe!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 1:22pm

she is not asked to dance at all in a way that would give the audience a glimpse of her great dance career

That's been the case for a while. And honestly, there is no need for it at this stage in her career nor is it necessary for the show. If people are really expecting to see some sort of dance feature tailored for the actress, they are far too late to the party. Even at the Goodman, she had a brief dance number that served no purpose other than to say "we found a way to get Chita to dance at her age AND pretend to have a wooden leg!" It added nothing to the show or the character.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 3/27/15 at 1:26pm

I am very excited to see the show this sunday! It looks beautiful!! And Chita is always just wonderful!