Lazarus- Page 4
Lazarus
ValentineLaMar
Chorus Member Joined: 7/7/05
Up In One
Broadway Star Joined: 5/27/04
#80Lazarus
Posted: 12/6/15 at 10:02pm
Picked up two seats in the sixth row Saturday morning after seeing posts here - thanks for the heads up.
Saw the Sunday Matinee and came away impressed again with Ivo Van Hove after seeing his amazing staging of A View From The bridge just last week. His visuals on Lazarus are very effective but his ability to bring clarity is stressed by the very non-theatrical and non-specific lyrics and music of Bowie. Where Bridge was riveting Laz was unengaging. I honestly struggled to not nod off during the first hour. But once the action stepped up with the arrival of the very good Michael Esper I had no problem getting through to the end. The young Sophia Ann Caruso has a beautiful voice and wonderful presence but there's a bit of creep factor in much of what she has to do. Michael C Hall and Cristin Milioti turn in workman performances but I can't say much more. The three backup singers/wardens/who knows what we're the weakest links. What should have been another ominous layer came off as flat and amateurish.
Overall an interesting day at a resident theater company doing work you expect from them - not commercial at all - professional, challenging, thought provoking. Successful? No but I'd give it an "A" for effort.
Up In One
#81Lazarus
Posted: 12/6/15 at 11:19pm
It is strange to come back from seeing this tonight to see School of Rock getting good reviews, since I always say I rather creatives aim high and miss than aim lower and get a bullseye. Sometimes the former is less easy to sit through than the latter, although I still stand by that desire.
I watched the movie a few days prior to going, and I don't think it made much of a difference. What little you were able to easily sort out based on the movie wasn't very elusive to begin with...
I was also mixed on a lot of famous Bowie songs appearing, as the familiarity didn't make it mesh with the material any easier/better for me.
It's a pretty high-end problem to have that talented cast sing Bowie songs and make performance art for you for two hours, though.
I wouldn't recommend anyone without tickets to knock themselves out trying, though, heh.
mgiltz
Swing Joined: 12/9/11
#82Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 1:54am
Yes, if you or anyone would give a general idea of new songs versus reworked songs from Bowie's catalog, that would be great. I'd be glad with a specific rundown but perhaps others consider that a spoiler, so maybe a general comment and then warn them you're gonna get specific. Is "Blackstar" in it? I heard that and other songs from his upcoming album were written for the show.
#83Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 2:25am
I think the second part of Blackstar is in it? And the song Lazarus from his upcoming album...
As far as older Bowie songs, the ones I can remember are:
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Absolute Beginners, Changes, All the Young Dudes, The Man Who Sold The World, Sound and Vision, Heroes (some changed lyrics)
Up In One
Broadway Star Joined: 5/27/04
#87Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 3:21pm
if you or anyone would give a general idea of new songs versus reworked songs from Bowie's catalog, that would be great. I'd be glad with a specific rundown
The songs that I knew or remembered from Bowie's original versions were..
All The Young Dudes - Life On Mars - Changes
There was no song list but among the other songs used were...
This Is Not America - Valentines day -
Up In One
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Broadway Joe
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/10
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#91Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 7:01pm
I was invited by a critic friend and thank god i did pay money to see this. Pretentious and tedious. You can bring your children but they would be bored. Michael C Hall could not save this tedium. Great video and special set effect do not make for enthralling theatre. An interminable two hours.
#92Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 9:10pm
Broadway Joe said: "Has anyone say front row for this show? I've never been to this theatre before and wanted to make sure it was a good view."
It is a very low stage and fine. I nearly had MCH in my lap, since I was the last seat over. I would try and go center, if you go front row, though, as we missed stuff that happened upstage on the opposite side a bit, since the "screen" is downstage a bit and blocked it.
Although will miss something if you are on the sides, I will point out, that you won't miss all that much by not attending, though, either.
V2David
Understudy Joined: 11/25/15
fengshuihellnyc
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/05
#95Lazarus
Posted: 12/7/15 at 11:24pm
V2David said: "Thank you for the update. I am not concerned if they are "bored", I just don't want them to be scared."
Hmm, they might be scared, dependent on ages. I mean, there is the whole element of...
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Alan Cumming having murdered the young girl, who is now stuck between worlds or somesuch, and they then goad MCH into killing her in the final scene, and when he finally stabs her, her body leaks a while, milky substance in all directions, rather than blood, since she was already murdered once before?!
Doesn't really sound like a show for children.
neonlightsxo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
#98Lazarus
Posted: 12/8/15 at 9:08pm
This show's reviews are like the emperor's new clothes.
We can't give this wunderkind director a bad review. We have to encourage experimentation and New York Theatre works. We don't know what's going on because this is experimental and we can't admit we don't know whats going on so we have to say we like it. We can't pick on David Bowie's music because its 'from his greatest hits even though they do nothing to propel the story and we have no idea why they are singing.. The actors are working hard and seem committed so we will give them a pass. The video and set are indeed interestiung unfortunately you can't hum or describe a plot from the interesting set.
I wish these critics would grow a pair in these cases and call pretentious tedium pretentious tedium.
Here is my review again. One of the most tedious pretentious nights I've ever spend in the theatre. This is the kind of theatre that makes people hate theatre.
